CVE-2024-44655 identifies a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in PHPGurukul Complaint Management System version 2.0. The vulnerability exists in the search parameter of the user-search.php script, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or encoded before being reflected in the web page output. This flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser when they interact with the vulnerable search functionality. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring authentication, but it requires user interaction to trigger the malicious payload. The CVSS v3.1 score of 6.1 reflects a medium severity, with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), scope changed (S:C), and partial impact on confidentiality and integrity (C:L/I:L) but no impact on availability (A:N). Although no public exploits have been reported, the vulnerability could be leveraged for session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, or performing actions on behalf of the user. The CWE-79 classification confirms this is a classic reflected XSS issue. The lack of available patches or updates at the time of publication suggests that affected organizations must implement compensating controls to mitigate risk. This vulnerability is typical of PHP-based web applications that do not enforce strict input validation or output encoding, highlighting the need for secure coding practices.

For European organizations using PHPGurukul Complaint Management System 2.0, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality and integrity of user data. Attackers could exploit the XSS flaw to steal session cookies, impersonate users, or manipulate complaint data, potentially undermining trust in complaint management processes. Public sector entities, customer service departments, and organizations handling sensitive complaints are particularly at risk, as exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to personal or organizational information. The vulnerability could also facilitate phishing attacks by injecting malicious scripts that redirect users to fraudulent sites. While availability is not directly impacted, the reputational damage and potential regulatory consequences under GDPR for data breaches could be significant. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation. European organizations with public-facing complaint management portals are more exposed, especially if they lack robust web application security controls.

Organizations should immediately review and sanitize all user inputs on the search parameter in user-search.php to prevent injection of malicious scripts. Implement strict input validation using whitelisting approaches and apply proper output encoding (e.g., HTML entity encoding) before rendering user-supplied data in the browser. Deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads can provide an additional layer of defense. Conduct thorough security testing, including automated and manual penetration tests focused on XSS vulnerabilities. Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links and ensure that browsers are configured to enable security features like Content Security Policy (CSP) to restrict script execution. Monitor web logs for unusual activity related to the search functionality. Since no official patch is currently available, these compensating controls are critical. Finally, organizations should engage with PHPGurukul or the software vendor to obtain updates or patches as soon as they become available.