CVE-2024-56289
Published: 07 January 2025
Summary
CVE-2024-56289 is a high-severity Cross-site Scripting (CWE-79) vulnerability. Its CVSS base score is 7.1 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 8.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-15 (Information Output Filtering).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
SI-15 mandates filtering of information outputs, directly preventing reflected XSS payloads from being improperly neutralized and executed during web page generation.
SI-10 enforces validation of inputs, blocking malicious payloads before they can be reflected in web pages by the Groundhogg plugin.
SI-2 requires timely flaw remediation, such as patching the Groundhogg plugin beyond version 3.7.3.3 to eliminate the specific XSS vulnerability.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Reflected XSS in public-facing WordPress plugin directly enables remote exploitation of the web application (T1190) via malicious links requiring user interaction (T1204.001) to achieve JavaScript execution in the browser (T1059.007).
NVD Description
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Adrian Tobey Groundhogg groundhogg allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Groundhogg: from n/a through <= 3.7.3.3.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2024-56289 is an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation vulnerability, classified as Reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) under CWE-79, affecting the Groundhogg WordPress plugin developed by Adrian Tobey. The issue impacts all versions of Groundhogg from n/a through 3.7.3.3. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L), indicating high severity due to network accessibility, low attack complexity, no required privileges, user interaction, and changed scope with low impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without authentication by tricking a user into interacting with a maliciously crafted link or input that reflects unsanitized data back into the web page. Upon execution in the victim's browser, the XSS payload can lead to low-level impacts such as limited data exfiltration, minor tampering, or denial of service within the context of the affected site, potentially affecting other users due to the changed scope.
The Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/groundhogg/vulnerability/wordpress-groundhogg-plugin-3-7-3-3-reflected-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cve provides details on the vulnerability, including recommendations for mitigation such as updating to a patched version of the Groundhogg plugin beyond 3.7.3.3. Security practitioners should review the advisory for specific patch instructions and workarounds.
Details
- CWE(s)