CVE-2024-55341 in Piranha
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2024
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Piranha CMS 11.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the web browser of a user, by creating a page via the /manager/pages and then adding a markdown content with the XSS payload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2025
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-55341 affects Piranha CMS version 11.1 and represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into the application's content management interface. This vulnerability specifically manifests when administrators or authorized users create pages through the /manager/pages endpoint and subsequently incorporate markdown content containing malicious payloads. The flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1588.002 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Shell, as it allows adversaries to establish persistent malicious presence within the CMS environment through client-side code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the content rendering layer where markdown content is processed and stored within the database without proper sanitization of potentially malicious script tags or JavaScript execution directives. When legitimate users navigate to pages containing the stored malicious content, their browsers execute the embedded JavaScript code within the context of their authenticated session, creating a prime vector for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the stored nature of the XSS flaw, meaning the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the content management system rather than being executed only during the initial request.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. Attackers can craft payloads that exploit the victim's administrative privileges if they target admin accounts, leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability also enables the execution of malicious scripts that can harvest cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users through the CMS interface. This threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, demonstrating how attackers can leverage the CMS environment to execute malicious commands through client-side scripting.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-55341 should prioritize immediate patching of the Piranha CMS application to the latest version that addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms to prevent any markdown content from being stored or rendered without proper validation of script elements. Security measures should include content security policy headers that restrict script execution from unauthorized sources and regular security audits of stored content within the CMS. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and monitoring user activities within the manager interface can help detect unauthorized content creation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a stored XSS issue also necessitates regular content review processes and user education about the risks of executing untrusted content within administrative interfaces, as outlined in the CWE-79 remediation guidelines and consistent with ATT&CK framework recommendations for preventing and detecting web-based attacks.