CVE-2024-11785 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified in the Integrate Firebase plugin for WordPress, developed by hanthuy. The vulnerability exists in all plugin versions up to and including 0.9.3 and is caused by improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79). Specifically, the plugin's 'firebase_show' shortcode fails to adequately sanitize and escape user-supplied attributes, allowing authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into WordPress pages. When other users access these pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability requires authentication but no additional user interaction beyond page viewing. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) reflects network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required, no user interaction, scope change, and partial confidentiality and integrity impact without availability impact. No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin. The vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous input validation and output encoding in WordPress plugin development to prevent stored XSS attacks.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-11785 is the potential compromise of user confidentiality and integrity on affected WordPress sites. Attackers with contributor-level access can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users’ browsers, enabling session hijacking, theft of sensitive data such as cookies or tokens, and unauthorized actions performed with the victim’s privileges. Although availability is not directly affected, the injected scripts could be used to deface websites or redirect users to malicious sites, damaging organizational reputation. For organizations relying on the Integrate Firebase plugin, this vulnerability could lead to data breaches, loss of user trust, and compliance violations, especially if sensitive user information is exposed. The requirement for authenticated access limits exploitation to insiders or compromised accounts, but this does not eliminate risk, as contributor-level accounts are common in collaborative WordPress environments. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component, increasing the potential attack surface. Overall, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk but should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2024-11785, organizations should first check for and apply any official patches or updates from the hanthuy Integrate Firebase plugin developer once available. In the absence of patches, administrators should restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only and audit existing contributor accounts for suspicious activity. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block common XSS payloads can provide temporary protection. Site administrators can also disable or remove the 'firebase_show' shortcode if it is not essential to site functionality. Additionally, applying Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can reduce the impact of injected scripts by restricting script execution sources. Developers maintaining the plugin should implement proper input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data, especially shortcode attributes, following WordPress security best practices. Regular security scanning and monitoring for anomalous script injections or unexpected page content changes are recommended to detect exploitation attempts early.