CVE-2024-56257 in Coins MarketCap Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in CoolPlugins Coins MarketCap allows DOM-Based XSS.This issue affects Coins MarketCap: from n/a through 5.5.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that specifically targets the DOM-based execution environment within the CoolPlugins Coins MarketCap plugin. The issue stems from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating an exploitable condition where malicious script code can be injected and executed within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability exists in versions ranging from unspecified initial release through 5.5.8, indicating a prolonged exposure window where users have been potentially at risk. This DOM-based XSS vulnerability operates by manipulating the Document Object Model directly through user-supplied input that is not properly neutralized or escaped before being rendered in the browser.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input parameters that are subsequently processed and embedded into dynamic web page content. When malicious input is received through various vectors such as URL parameters, form fields, or other user-controllable data sources, the application fails to adequately escape or remove potentially dangerous characters and script sequences. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially stealing cookies, session tokens, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of users. The vulnerability specifically affects the web page generation process where dynamic content is constructed, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise the entire user interaction environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks within the affected system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate displayed content, or redirect users to malicious websites. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability means that the attack vector is more subtle and harder to detect compared to traditional reflected or stored XSS variants. The affected plugin's functionality within WordPress environments creates additional attack surface where the malicious code can persist across multiple user interactions and sessions. This vulnerability particularly threatens users who access the plugin's features regularly, as the malicious payload can execute automatically when they navigate to affected pages or interact with the plugin's interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the plugin's codebase. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper escaping functions before rendering any dynamic content, with particular attention to DOM manipulation functions that handle user data. Security patches should be implemented to ensure that all input parameters are validated against expected formats and character sets, with appropriate error handling for malformed inputs. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugin components, with adherence to established security standards such as those outlined in the CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the web application attack patterns, specifically relating to the execution of malicious scripts within user browsers through input manipulation techniques.