Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

Alto CMS Alert: XSS Vulnerability (CVE-2024-42749) Exposes Sites to Attack

Overview

A Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability has been discovered in Alto CMS version 1.1.13. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-42749, allows a local attacker to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a user’s browser. Successful exploitation could lead to various malicious activities, including session hijacking, defacement, and the theft of sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-42749

The vulnerability resides in Alto CMS v.1.1.13 where insufficient input sanitization allows for the injection of malicious scripts. A crafted script, likely injected through a vulnerable input field or parameter, can then be executed when a user interacts with the affected page. The specific injection point requires further analysis, but it highlights the critical need for robust input validation and output encoding.

CVSS Analysis

Currently, the CVSS score and severity rating for CVE-2024-42749 are listed as N/A. This indicates that the vulnerability might not have been fully assessed, or the details available are incomplete. However, XSS vulnerabilities generally carry a significant risk and should be addressed promptly. We will update this section when a formal CVSS score becomes available.

Possible Impact

Exploitation of this XSS vulnerability could have serious consequences:

  • Session Hijacking: Attackers could steal user session cookies, gaining unauthorized access to accounts.
  • Website Defacement: Malicious scripts could modify the appearance of the website, damaging its reputation.
  • Data Theft: Sensitive user data, such as credentials or personal information, could be stolen.
  • Malware Distribution: The vulnerability could be used to distribute malware to website visitors.

Mitigation and Patch Steps

To mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2024-42749, we recommend the following steps:

  • Upgrade Alto CMS: Check the Alto CMS GitHub repository for updates or patches addressing this vulnerability. Apply the update as soon as it is available.
  • Input Sanitization: Implement robust input validation and sanitization techniques to prevent the injection of malicious scripts. Ensure all user-supplied data is properly encoded before being displayed on the page.
  • Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF to detect and block XSS attacks. Configure the WAF to filter out potentially malicious input.
  • Content Security Policy (CSP): Implement a strong CSP to restrict the sources from which the browser is allowed to load resources. This can help prevent the execution of injected scripts.

References

Cybersecurity specialist and founder of Gowri Shankar Infosec - a professional blog dedicated to sharing actionable insights on cybersecurity, data protection, server administration, and compliance frameworks including SOC 2, PCI DSS, and GDPR.

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