Laravel framework Vulnerability- CVE-2024-13918

Laravel framework Vulnerability- CVE-2024-13918

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Laravel is a robust, open-source PHP framework designed to make web application development more accessible and efficient. Known for its expressive syntax and modular architecture, Laravel simplifies tasks such as routing, authentication, and database interactions.

Vulnerability

A significant security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-13918, has been discovered in the Laravel framework, affecting versions 11.9.0 through 11.35.1. This vulnerability arises from improper encoding of request parameters in the debug-mode error page, leading to a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) issue.

Technical Details

When Laravel operates in debug mode (APP_DEBUG=true), encountering an error (HTTP status 5XX) prompts the framework to display a detailed error page. This page includes information about the request that triggered the error. However, due to inadequate encoding of request parameters, an attacker can craft a malicious request that injects arbitrary JavaScript code into this error page. If a user accesses such a crafted link, the malicious script executes within the context of the affected web application.

Potential Impact

Exploiting this vulnerability allows attackers to execute JavaScript code in a user's browser under the affected web application's origin. This could lead to unauthorized actions such as session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS base score of 8.0, indicating high severity.

Mitigation Steps

To address this issue, the following measures are recommended:

1. Upgrade Laravel: Update the Laravel framework to version 11.36.0 or later, where this vulnerability has been patched.
2. Disable Debug Mode in Production: Ensure that the application does not run in debug mode in production environments by setting APP_DEBUG=false in the configuration.
3. Implement Input Validation and Output Encoding: Apply strict input validation and output encoding to prevent injection attacks.
4. Use Content Security Policy (CSP) Headers: Implement CSP headers to provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks.
5. Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and sanitize user inputs to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-13918 underscores the critical importance of proper input handling and secure configurations in web applications. Developers and administrators using affected versions of the Laravel framework should promptly apply the recommended updates and security practices to safeguard their applications against potential exploits.

Sources: https://nvd.nist.gov/ , https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2025/q1/195?utm_source=chatgpt.com , https://www.sba-research.org/2025/03/10/sba-security-advisory-laravel-reflected-xss-via-request-parameter-in-debug-mode-error-page-cve-2024-13918/?utm_source=chatgpt.com , https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-546h-56qp-8jmw?utm_source=chatgpt.com