CVE-2024-54302 in VForm Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Vikas Ratudi VForm allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects VForm: from n/a through 3.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54302 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the VForm web application developed by Vikas Ratudi. This reflected XSS vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process when input parameters are not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a significant security risk for any system utilizing this software. The vulnerability affects all versions of VForm from the initial release through version 3.0.0, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been adequately addressed. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of how user-supplied data can be exploited to execute arbitrary code in the context of a victim's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the VForm application. When user input is directly incorporated into web page content without proper sanitization, attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit the application's failure to neutralize potentially dangerous characters and script tags. The reflected nature of this XSS means that the malicious script is reflected off the web server back to the user's browser, typically through URL parameters or form inputs. This characteristic makes the attack vector particularly insidious as it requires no persistent storage of malicious code within the application itself, relying instead on the user's interaction with a specially crafted URL that contains the malicious payload.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as reflected XSS can enable more sophisticated attacks including credential harvesting, defacement of web content, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal user sessions, modify page content, or even execute arbitrary commands on the victim's browser. The risk is amplified by the fact that this vulnerability affects a wide range of versions, suggesting that organizations implementing VForm may have been exposed to this threat for an extended period. The attack surface is broad since any user interaction with the web application that involves input processing could potentially be exploited, making it a high-priority concern for system administrators and security teams. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers spearphishing with links, where attackers can leverage reflected XSS to deliver malicious payloads through seemingly legitimate web interactions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user inputs before they are processed or displayed in web pages, ensuring that potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags are properly escaped or removed. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Organizations should also consider implementing proper HTTP headers including X-Content-Type-Options and X-Frame-Options to reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. The remediation process should involve comprehensive code review focusing on all input handling mechanisms, particularly those that interact with web page generation processes, and implementation of secure coding practices that prevent the introduction of similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles.