CVE-2024-12156 is a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79 found in the quantumcloud AI Content Writer, RSS Feed to Post, Autoblogging SEO Help plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including 6.1.3. The root cause is insufficient sanitization and escaping of the 'page' parameter during web page generation, which allows unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. When a victim clicks a maliciously crafted URL containing the payload in the 'page' parameter, the injected script executes in the victim's browser context. This can lead to theft of cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information, as well as potential manipulation of the displayed content or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability does not require authentication, making it easier for attackers to exploit remotely over the network. However, exploitation requires user interaction, specifically clicking a crafted link. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, indicating a medium severity level with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability affects a widely used WordPress plugin that automates content posting and SEO help, increasing the potential attack surface for websites using this plugin without updated versions or mitigations.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-12156 is on the confidentiality and integrity of affected websites and their users. Attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the vulnerable site, potentially stealing session cookies, login credentials, or other sensitive data. This can lead to account takeover, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or phishing attacks leveraging the trusted site. Although availability is not directly impacted, successful exploitation can degrade user trust and damage the reputation of affected organizations. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, the scope of impact depends on the attacker’s ability to lure users into clicking malicious links. Organizations running WordPress sites with this plugin are at risk of targeted attacks, especially those with high traffic or sensitive user data. The vulnerability could be leveraged in broader attack campaigns to compromise multiple sites or users. The lack of a patch increases exposure time, and the plugin’s automation features may amplify the impact by propagating malicious content if exploited.

Organizations should immediately verify if they use the quantumcloud AI Content Writer, RSS Feed to Post, Autoblogging SEO Help plugin and identify the version installed. Since no official patch is currently linked, temporary mitigations include disabling the plugin until a fix is released. Web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious requests containing malicious payloads in the 'page' parameter. Input validation and output encoding should be enforced at the application level if custom modifications are possible. Educating users about the risks of clicking untrusted links can reduce successful exploitation. Monitoring web server logs for unusual query parameters or spikes in traffic targeting the 'page' parameter can help detect exploitation attempts. Once a vendor patch is available, organizations must promptly apply updates. Additionally, adopting Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can mitigate the impact of XSS by restricting script execution sources. Regular security assessments and plugin audits should be part of ongoing website security hygiene.