CVE-2024-12098 identifies a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability in the ARS Affiliate Page Plugin for WordPress, specifically through the 'utm_keyword' URL parameter. This vulnerability stems from CWE-79: improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The plugin fails to adequately sanitize or escape user-supplied input, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. Because the vulnerability is reflected, the malicious payload is embedded in a crafted URL that, when visited by a user, executes in their browser context. The attack does not require authentication but does require user interaction (clicking the malicious link). The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, scope changed, and low impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no impact on availability. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.0.2 of the plugin. While no public exploits are currently known, the widespread use of WordPress and affiliate marketing plugins increases the potential attack surface. Successful exploitation could lead to theft of session cookies, redirection to malicious sites, or execution of arbitrary actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without authentication, relying solely on social engineering to lure users to malicious URLs.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-12098 is on the confidentiality and integrity of users interacting with affected WordPress sites using the ARS Affiliate Page Plugin. Attackers can steal session cookies, enabling account takeover or impersonation. They can also execute arbitrary JavaScript to perform actions such as redirecting users to phishing sites, capturing sensitive input, or manipulating displayed content. Although availability is not affected, the reputational damage and potential data breaches can be significant for organizations relying on affiliate marketing through this plugin. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation (no authentication required, low complexity) combined with the large number of WordPress sites globally means many organizations could be targeted. This is especially critical for e-commerce, marketing, and content sites where user trust and data integrity are paramount. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, potentially impacting the entire site or user session. Organizations failing to address this vulnerability risk user data compromise, loss of customer trust, and regulatory penalties related to data protection.

To mitigate CVE-2024-12098, organizations should first check for and apply any official patches or updates from the ARS Developer team as soon as they are released. In the absence of a patch, administrators should implement strict input validation and output encoding on the 'utm_keyword' parameter to neutralize malicious scripts. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious payloads targeting this parameter. Additionally, employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can limit the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. Site owners should educate users about the risks of clicking untrusted links and monitor web traffic for unusual patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning focusing on WordPress plugins can help identify and remediate similar issues proactively. Finally, consider disabling or replacing the ARS Affiliate Page Plugin if a timely fix is not available, especially for high-risk environments.