CVE-2024-52418 in Gameplan Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in CactusThemes Gameplan allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Gameplan: from n/a through 1.5.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The issue resides in the CactusThemes Gameplan plugin where input validation and output sanitization mechanisms fail to properly neutralize user-supplied data during web page generation processes. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application reflects user input back to the browser without adequate encoding or filtering, creating an environment where malicious payloads can execute in the context of other users' sessions. This type of weakness falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security concern in web applications. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script is delivered and executed as part of a single request, typically through crafted URLs or form submissions that contain the malicious payload. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially designed input parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable application, get reflected back to the victim's browser and subsequently executed as JavaScript code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even modify the content of web pages viewed by legitimate users. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Gameplan plugin from the initial release through version 1.5.10, indicating a persistent flaw that was not adequately addressed in the development lifecycle. This exposure period creates significant risk for WordPress sites using the affected plugin, as attackers can leverage this weakness to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. The reflected XSS nature means that the attack requires user interaction with a malicious link, but once triggered, the malicious code executes in the victim's browser with the privileges of that user. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through web shells and malicious scripts, and also maps to T1213 which addresses data from information repositories.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 1.5.11 or later where the XSS flaw has been addressed. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application to prevent similar issues in the future. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to mitigate the impact of potential XSS attacks. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, particularly in user-facing interfaces where untrusted data enters the system. Security teams should establish automated scanning processes to detect similar XSS vulnerabilities in their codebases and implement secure coding practices that prevent the injection of malicious content into web responses. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious links and the importance of keeping plugins updated remains crucial in mitigating the risk of exploitation.