CVE-2024-54935 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the kashipara E-learning Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability resides in the /send_message_teacher_to_student.php script, where the my_message parameter is insufficiently sanitized, allowing an authenticated user to inject malicious JavaScript code that is stored on the server and later executed in the browsers of other users who view the message. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which is a common web application security flaw. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially impacting other users. The impact affects confidentiality and integrity at a low level (C:L, I:L) but does not impact availability (A:N). Since the vulnerability requires authentication and user interaction, exploitation is somewhat limited but still poses a significant risk in environments where users trust messages from teachers or administrators, such as educational institutions. No patches or known exploits are currently reported, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed as of December 9, 2024. The lack of a patch increases the urgency for organizations to implement interim mitigations.

The primary impact of this vulnerability is the potential execution of arbitrary scripts in the context of users' browsers, which can lead to theft of session cookies, user impersonation, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. In an educational environment, this could compromise student or teacher accounts, leading to data leakage or manipulation of educational content and communications. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system availability, the breach of confidentiality and integrity can undermine trust in the e-learning platform and disrupt educational processes. Since exploitation requires authentication and user interaction, the threat is more targeted but still significant in environments with many users and frequent message exchanges. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, as attackers may develop exploits following public disclosure. Organizations worldwide using this system or similar platforms are at risk, especially those with limited security controls or awareness.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately implement strict input validation and output encoding on the my_message parameter to prevent injection of malicious scripts. Employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can reduce the impact of XSS by restricting script execution sources. User input should be sanitized server-side using well-established libraries or frameworks that neutralize HTML and JavaScript code. Additionally, restricting the privileges of users who can send messages and monitoring message content for suspicious patterns can help reduce risk. Since no official patch is currently available, organizations should consider disabling or restricting the vulnerable messaging functionality temporarily. Educating users about the risks of clicking on unexpected links or executing scripts in messages is also important. Finally, organizations should monitor security advisories for updates or patches from the vendor and apply them promptly once released.