CVE-2024-12037 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the svenl77 WordPress plugin named 'Post Form – Registration Form – Profile Form for User Profiles – Frontend Content Forms for User Submissions (UGC)'. This plugin facilitates user-generated content (UGC) submission through various frontend forms such as post submission, registration, and profile editing. The vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied input within the 'bf_new_submission_link' shortcode, which is used to render links related to new submissions. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages that store this input persistently. When other users access these pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially compromising session tokens, redirecting users, or performing actions on their behalf. The vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.8.13. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, with impact on confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No known public exploits have been reported yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), a common web security weakness. The scope is significant for WordPress sites using this plugin, especially those allowing contributor-level users to submit content. The vulnerability’s exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, session hijacking, or defacement, undermining site integrity and user trust.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-12037 is the potential for attackers with contributor-level access to inject persistent malicious scripts into WordPress sites using the vulnerable plugin. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, and defacement or manipulation of site content. Organizations relying on this plugin for user-generated content risk compromise of user accounts and data confidentiality. Since the attack requires authenticated access, the threat is mitigated somewhat by access controls, but many WordPress sites allow contributors or similar roles to submit content, making exploitation feasible. The vulnerability does not affect availability directly but can severely damage integrity and confidentiality. Exploitation could also facilitate further attacks such as privilege escalation or malware distribution. The global reach of WordPress and the popularity of user content plugins mean a broad potential impact, especially for community-driven or membership sites. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation.

To mitigate CVE-2024-12037, organizations should immediately upgrade the svenl77 plugin to a version where this vulnerability is patched once available. Until a patch is released, administrators should restrict contributor-level permissions or disable the 'bf_new_submission_link' shortcode usage if possible. Implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious script injections targeting this shortcode can reduce risk. Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding on all user-generated content, especially in frontend forms. Regularly audit user roles and permissions to minimize the number of users with contributor-level access. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. Monitor logs for unusual activity related to content submissions or script injections. Educate site administrators and users about the risks of XSS and safe content practices. Finally, maintain regular backups and have an incident response plan to quickly remediate any exploitation.