CVE-2024-11747 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Responsive Videos plugin for WordPress, developed by wpenhanced. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 2.1 due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically within the 'somryv' shortcode. This shortcode fails to adequately sanitize and escape user-supplied attributes, allowing authenticated users with contributor-level or higher permissions to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. When other users access these pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially compromising session tokens, cookies, or enabling further attacks such as privilege escalation or defacement. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating improper input validation leading to XSS. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4 (medium severity), with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and scope changed (S:C). No known public exploits have been reported yet. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Responsive Videos plugin prior to a fix, making it a widespread risk for WordPress sites using this plugin. The flaw is particularly dangerous because contributor-level users, who typically have permissions to add content but not publish, can inject persistent scripts that execute for all visitors, including administrators. This can lead to theft of credentials, unauthorized actions, or site defacement. The lack of output escaping and input sanitization in shortcode attributes is the root cause, highlighting the need for secure coding practices in plugin development. Since the vulnerability is stored XSS, the impact is persistent and can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability was published on December 4, 2024, with no patch links currently available, indicating that users must monitor for updates or apply manual mitigations.

The impact of CVE-2024-11747 is significant for organizations running WordPress sites with the Responsive Videos plugin installed. An attacker with contributor-level access can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors, including administrators. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, defacement, or distribution of malware. Since contributor roles are common in multi-author blogs and content management workflows, the attack surface is broad. The vulnerability compromises confidentiality and integrity but does not directly affect availability. The scope is changed because the vulnerability allows escalation of privileges indirectly by compromising higher-privileged users through XSS. Organizations relying on this plugin risk reputational damage, data breaches, and potential regulatory non-compliance if user data is exposed. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as proof-of-concept exploits may emerge. The vulnerability's medium severity score reflects the balance between required privileges and potential impact, but the persistent nature of stored XSS increases risk over time.

To mitigate CVE-2024-11747 effectively, organizations should: 1) Monitor for and apply official patches or updates from the wpenhanced Responsive Videos plugin as soon as they become available. 2) Temporarily restrict or audit contributor-level user permissions to minimize the risk of malicious shortcode injection. 3) Implement a web application firewall (WAF) with rules designed to detect and block XSS payloads, particularly those targeting shortcode attributes. 4) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected pages. 5) Conduct regular security reviews and code audits of installed plugins, focusing on input validation and output escaping practices. 6) Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce strict content submission guidelines. 7) Use security plugins that scan for malicious code injections and alert administrators to suspicious changes. 8) Consider disabling or replacing the Responsive Videos plugin with alternatives that follow secure coding standards if immediate patching is not feasible. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, proactive monitoring, and layered defenses tailored to the nature of this stored XSS vulnerability.