CVE-2024-11140 is a vulnerability classified as CWE-79 (Cross-Site Scripting, XSS) found in the Real WP Shop Lite Ajax eCommerce Shopping Cart WordPress plugin, up to version 2.0.8. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape certain settings. This flaw allows users with high privileges, such as administrators, to inject and store malicious scripts (Stored XSS) within the plugin's settings. Notably, this vulnerability can be exploited even when the WordPress unfiltered_html capability is disabled, such as in multisite configurations, which typically restricts HTML input. The attack requires high privilege (admin) and user interaction to trigger the malicious script, which could lead to limited confidentiality and integrity impacts, such as session hijacking, privilege escalation, or defacement within the affected WordPress site. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 3.5 (low severity), reflecting the requirement for high privileges and user interaction, and the limited scope of impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability primarily affects site administrators who manage the plugin settings, potentially allowing them to inject malicious JavaScript that executes in the context of other administrators or users viewing affected pages.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Real WP Shop Lite Ajax eCommerce Shopping Cart plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to site integrity and confidentiality. An attacker with admin privileges could inject malicious scripts that execute in other administrators' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, unauthorized actions, or theft of sensitive data. Although the vulnerability requires admin-level access, which limits the initial attack surface, compromised or malicious insiders could exploit it. In e-commerce contexts, this could undermine customer trust and lead to reputational damage, especially under strict EU data protection regulations like GDPR. The vulnerability does not directly impact availability, but indirect effects such as site defacement or administrative disruption could occur. Since the plugin is used in e-commerce, any compromise could affect transaction integrity and customer data confidentiality, which are critical for European businesses operating online.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify if the Real WP Shop Lite Ajax eCommerce Shopping Cart plugin is installed and which version is in use. Until an official patch is released, administrators should restrict plugin access to only the most trusted users and review all plugin settings for suspicious or unexpected content. Implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help mitigate the impact of XSS by restricting script execution sources. Additionally, organizations should enforce strong administrative access controls and monitor admin activities for anomalous behavior. Regular backups and incident response plans should be in place to recover from potential exploitation. When a patch becomes available, prompt application is critical. For multisite WordPress setups, extra caution is warranted since the vulnerability bypasses unfiltered_html restrictions. Finally, consider alternative plugins with better security track records if this plugin is not essential.