CVE-2024-56262 in GS Coaches Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in GS Plugins GS Coaches allows Stored XSS.This issue affects GS Coaches: from n/a through 1.1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The issue resides in the GS Plugins GS Coaches plugin, specifically within its web page generation functionality where input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly neutralize user-supplied data. The vulnerability allows for stored XSS attacks, meaning malicious scripts can be permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are accessed by unsuspecting users. This particular weakness affects all versions of the GS Coaches plugin from the initial release through version 1.1.0, indicating a persistent flaw that has remained unaddressed across multiple iterations of the software. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting, which is a well-documented and frequently exploited weakness in web applications. From an operational perspective, this flaw creates a significant risk for organizations using the GS Coaches plugin, as it can enable attackers to steal user sessions, deface websites, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, it will persist and affect all users who view the compromised pages without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the plugin's content handling mechanisms. When users submit data through forms or other interactive elements within the GS Coaches interface, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject script tags or other malicious payloads that are then stored in the application's database or storage systems. The flaw becomes particularly dangerous when combined with the plugin's web page generation capabilities, as the stored malicious content gets rendered back to users without proper sanitization. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute various malicious activities including session hijacking through cookie theft, credential harvesting, or even redirecting users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft, as it can potentially allow for privilege escalation attacks if the affected users have administrative privileges within the system. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for credential access through social engineering and T1059 for command and script injection. The persistence of this flaw across multiple versions suggests that developers may not have implemented proper input validation frameworks or may have overlooked security testing during the development lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through patching the affected plugin to version 1.1.1 or later, which should contain the necessary input sanitization fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious scripts from being stored or executed. The recommended approach includes implementing strict sanitization of all user-supplied content using established libraries and frameworks that can properly escape HTML and JavaScript characters. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while also conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins and themes. Regular security scanning should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire web application stack, as this flaw may indicate broader security gaps in the development practices. Additionally, organizations should establish secure coding practices that emphasize input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting script execution from unauthorized sources. Security teams should also consider implementing user access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unusual activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security training for developers can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future code releases, emphasizing the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of addressing security concerns early in the development lifecycle and maintaining up-to-date security measures across all web application components.