CVE-2024-11940 identifies a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Property Hive Mortgage Calculator plugin for WordPress, present in all versions up to and including 1.0.6. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically inadequate sanitization and escaping of the 'price' parameter. Authenticated users with Contributor-level permissions or higher can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages rendered by the plugin. Because the malicious script is stored, it executes every time a user accesses the infected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing unauthorized actions within the context of the victim’s browser session. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) indicates that the attack can be launched remotely over the network with low complexity, requires privileges (Contributor or higher), does not require user interaction, and affects confidentiality and integrity with a scope change. No patches or exploit code are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability is published and should be considered a significant risk for sites using this plugin. The root cause is the failure to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied input before rendering it in HTML output, a classic CWE-79 issue. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in WordPress plugins, especially those handling user input that is stored and later rendered.

The impact of CVE-2024-11940 is primarily on the confidentiality and integrity of affected WordPress sites using the Property Hive Mortgage Calculator plugin. Exploitation allows authenticated contributors or higher to inject persistent malicious scripts, which execute in the browsers of any users visiting the compromised pages. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information such as cookies or credentials, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, and potential defacement or misinformation. While availability is not directly affected, the reputational damage and potential data breaches can be significant. Organizations relying on this plugin for real estate or mortgage-related services may face customer trust erosion and compliance issues if exploited. Since the attack requires authenticated access, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts increase risk. The scope is broad because the vulnerability affects all versions up to 1.0.6, and many WordPress sites globally use this plugin. Without mitigation, attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent footholds or pivot to further attacks within the affected environment.

To mitigate CVE-2024-11940, organizations should immediately restrict Contributor-level and higher privileges to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious script injection. Site administrators should monitor logs and content for suspicious or unexpected script tags or HTML injected via the 'price' parameter. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting this plugin can provide interim protection. Applying strict Content Security Policies (CSP) that disallow inline scripts and restrict script sources can reduce the impact of injected scripts. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or removing the Property Hive Mortgage Calculator plugin if feasible. Developers and site owners should follow secure coding best practices by sanitizing and escaping all user inputs before rendering. Regularly update WordPress core and plugins to the latest versions once patches become available. Additionally, conduct user privilege audits and enforce multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of account compromise. Finally, educate contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content.