CVE-2024-11440 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Grey Owl Lightbox plugin for WordPress, specifically in all versions up to and including 1.6.1. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. The issue lies in the 'gol_button' shortcode, which fails to adequately sanitize and escape user-supplied attributes. This flaw allows authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. When other users access these pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially compromising session tokens, redirecting users, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. The vulnerability requires no user interaction beyond viewing the infected page but does require authentication with contributor or higher privileges, limiting exploitation to insiders or compromised accounts. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required, no user interaction, and partial confidentiality and integrity impact. No public exploits are currently known, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to WordPress sites using this plugin, especially those with multiple contributors or less restrictive user role management. The vulnerability is published and tracked by Wordfence and the CVE database, but no official patches or updates have been linked yet, indicating the need for immediate attention from site administrators.

The impact of CVE-2024-11440 on organizations can be significant, particularly for websites relying on the Grey Owl Lightbox plugin. Successful exploitation allows an authenticated contributor or higher to inject persistent malicious scripts, which execute in the browsers of any user viewing the affected pages. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive user data, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, defacement, or distribution of malware. For organizations with multiple contributors or open content submission workflows, the risk of insider threats or compromised contributor accounts increases. The vulnerability undermines the integrity and confidentiality of website content and user data, potentially damaging organizational reputation and trust. While availability is not directly impacted, the indirect consequences of exploitation, such as blacklisting by search engines or browsers, can disrupt normal operations. The medium CVSS score reflects moderate risk, but the scope can be broad given WordPress's global popularity and the plugin's usage. Organizations in sectors with high web presence, such as e-commerce, media, and education, may face elevated risks due to the potential for data leakage and user exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2024-11440, organizations should take immediate steps beyond generic advice: 1) Restrict contributor-level access strictly to trusted users and audit contributor activities regularly to detect suspicious shortcode usage. 2) Temporarily disable or remove the Grey Owl Lightbox plugin until an official patch or update is released. 3) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the 'gol_button' shortcode attributes. 4) Employ input validation and output encoding plugins or custom code to sanitize shortcode attributes before rendering. 5) Monitor website logs and user-generated content for anomalous scripts or injection attempts. 6) Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting unauthorized code and enforce strict content submission policies. 7) Keep WordPress core and all plugins updated to the latest versions to reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities. 8) Consider using security plugins that can detect and quarantine malicious scripts in posts and pages. These targeted measures help reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation while awaiting official fixes.