CVE-2024-49673 Overview
CVE-2024-49673 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Van Abel LaTeX2HTML plugin for WordPress. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation, classified under [CWE-79]. All versions of the plugin up to and including 2.5.4 are affected. An attacker can craft a malicious URL that, when clicked by an authenticated user, executes arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser session. Successful exploitation can lead to session compromise, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed within the WordPress site context.
Critical Impact
Reflected XSS enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser, potentially hijacking WordPress admin sessions and pivoting to site compromise.
Affected Products
- LaTeX2HTML WordPress plugin versions up to and including 2.5.4
- Installations maintained by Van Abel
- WordPress sites using the latex2html plugin for LaTeX-to-HTML rendering
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-29 - CVE CVE-2024-49673 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-49673
Vulnerability Analysis
The LaTeX2HTML plugin fails to sanitize or encode user-supplied input before reflecting it back into rendered HTML output. This flaw enables reflected XSS, where attacker-controlled data in an HTTP request appears unescaped in the server's response. The vulnerability requires user interaction, typically a victim clicking a crafted link. Because the attack results in a scope change, malicious script executes in the security context of the WordPress site, giving attackers access to cookies, session tokens, and Document Object Model (DOM) content available to the victim.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing output encoding on parameters processed by the plugin's request handlers. Input received via HTTP GET or POST parameters is inserted directly into HTML responses without HTML entity encoding or contextual escaping. This violates secure output handling principles for browser-rendered content.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is network-based and requires no authentication. An attacker crafts a URL containing a JavaScript payload in a vulnerable parameter processed by the LaTeX2HTML plugin. The attacker then distributes the link via phishing email, social media, or an attacker-controlled website. When the victim loads the URL on the affected WordPress site, the payload reflects into the response and executes in the browser. Refer to the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Advisory for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49673
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to WordPress endpoints associated with the latex2html plugin containing script tags, JavaScript event handlers, or encoded payloads such as %3Cscript%3E.
- Web server access logs showing long or suspicious query strings targeting plugin parameters.
- Unexpected outbound requests from user browsers to attacker-controlled domains following visits to the WordPress site.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress access logs for reflected XSS patterns targeting latex2html request parameters.
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that flag JavaScript-like content in URL parameters.
- Correlate referrer headers with external phishing infrastructure to identify targeted campaigns.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor administrator session activity for anomalous requests originating shortly after suspicious URL visits.
- Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reporting to detect blocked inline script execution attempts.
- Track plugin version inventory across WordPress deployments to identify hosts still running latex2html2.5.4 or earlier.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49673
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress installations running the LaTeX2HTML plugin and confirm the installed version.
- Disable the latex2html plugin on affected sites until a patched release is verified.
- Notify site administrators to avoid clicking untrusted links referencing the affected WordPress domains.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no fixed version beyond 2.5.4 is referenced in the advisory. Administrators should consult the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Advisory for updated remediation guidance and monitor the plugin repository for a security release.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the LaTeX2HTML plugin until an official patch is available.
- Deploy a WAF rule to block requests containing script tags or JavaScript event handlers targeting plugin endpoints.
- Implement a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline script execution to reduce XSS impact.
- Require administrators to use dedicated browsers or sessions for WordPress management to limit cookie exposure.
# Example WAF rule concept (ModSecurity)
SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(<script|onerror=|onload=|javascript:)" \
"id:1004973,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Reflected XSS attempt targeting latex2html plugin'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
