CVE-2024-52394 in Print PDF Generator and Publisher Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in nopea.Media Print PDF Generator and Publisher allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Print PDF Generator and Publisher: from n/a through 1.1.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-52394 represents a critical security flaw in the nopea.Media Print PDF Generator and Publisher plugin, specifically manifesting as an improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This weakness creates a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages that are then executed by other users. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user input during the PDF generation process, where insufficient sanitization or validation of data allows malicious payloads to be permanently stored and subsequently executed. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it enables persistent XSS attacks where malicious scripts are stored on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 1.1.6, indicating that the flaw has existed for some time and potentially affected numerous installations. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to steal user sessions, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious websites. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly challenging to detect and remediate. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets processed and stored within the plugin's data handling mechanisms, then later retrieved when generating PDF documents or displaying web pages. This vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers spearphishing attachments, and T1584.004 which involves creating or modifying malicious files. The affected plugin's functionality as a PDF generator and publisher makes it an attractive target for attackers since PDF documents are commonly trusted and frequently opened by users. The vulnerability's presence in the web page generation phase indicates that the plugin does not properly sanitize user-provided content before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, creating an environment where malicious JavaScript can be injected and executed. This flaw represents a significant risk to website security and user privacy, as it allows for persistent malicious code execution that can compromise user sessions and data. Organizations using this plugin are particularly vulnerable to attacks targeting their web applications, as the stored XSS vulnerability can be leveraged to perform various malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. The attack surface is broad since any user input processed by the plugin's PDF generation functionality could potentially be exploited. Remediation efforts should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensuring that all user-provided data is sanitized before being stored or displayed. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of plugins and third-party components. Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the plugin where this vulnerability has been addressed and implement additional security measures to protect against similar issues in their web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the plugin's data processing pipeline. When users provide content that gets processed by the PDF generator, the plugin fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that are then stored within the application's database or file system. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once the malicious payload is injected, it remains persistent and will be executed whenever users access pages containing the compromised content. The vulnerability affects the plugin's ability to safely handle user-generated content during the PDF creation process, where user input is not properly escaped or validated before being incorporated into web page elements. This type of flaw is particularly insidious because it can be exploited through legitimate user interactions, making it difficult to distinguish between normal usage and malicious activity. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that PDF generation is a common function that processes user input, creating multiple potential entry points for attackers. Security researchers have identified that this weakness allows for the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and access to sensitive data. The vulnerability's persistence makes it especially dangerous as it can remain undetected for extended periods, continuing to affect users who access the compromised content. The flaw represents a failure in the plugin's security architecture to properly implement defense-in-depth measures, specifically around input validation and output encoding. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all user-provided content is properly sanitized before processing. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper security controls throughout the software development lifecycle.