CVE-2024-9571 in SOPlanning
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2024
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SOPlanning <1.45, due to lack of proper validation of user input via /soplanning/www/process/xajax_server.php, affecting multiple parameters. This could allow a remote user to send a specially crafted query to an authenticated user and partially take control of their browser session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9571 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the SOPlanning application version 1.44 and earlier. This weakness resides in the xajax_server.php endpoint which processes user input without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The affected application fails to properly filter malicious content submitted through multiple parameters, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by remote adversaries to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets the process handling functionality of the planning application, where user-supplied data flows directly into output without appropriate security controls.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input parameters processed by the xajax_server.php script. When authenticated users interact with the application and receive responses containing malicious payloads, the browser executes the injected scripts within the context of their active session. This creates a dangerous scenario where attackers can leverage the vulnerability to perform actions on behalf of legitimate users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized modifications to the application's data. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects authenticated users, meaning that attackers can exploit the flaw even when users are logged into the system with elevated privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using SOPlanning version 1.44 or earlier. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit the flaw from any location without requiring physical access to the target network. The ability to partially control user browser sessions creates opportunities for advanced persistent threats where attackers can establish footholds within the organization's planning and scheduling systems. This weakness directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of XSS vulnerabilities that can be leveraged for session management attacks and data compromise. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for "Run-time Application Packing" and T1566 for "Phishing" when attackers use the XSS to deliver malicious payloads to users.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls within the xajax_server.php endpoint. Organizations should upgrade to SOPlanning version 1.45 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper parameter sanitization and validation. Security controls should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, proper HTML encoding of all user-supplied content before rendering, and comprehensive input validation that rejects suspicious patterns or characters. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the vulnerable parameters, and conduct thorough security testing to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the application. The remediation process should follow industry standards such as those outlined in CWE-79 for Cross-site Scripting and the OWASP Secure Coding Practices to prevent future occurrences of this class of vulnerability.