CVE-2024-12408 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, found in the WP on AWS plugin for WordPress developed by wpseahorse. This vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including 5.2.1. The root cause is insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied input received via the $_POST superglobal, which is then reflected in web pages generated by the plugin. Because the input is not properly neutralized, an attacker can craft malicious JavaScript code embedded in POST requests. When a victim user is tricked into clicking a specially crafted link or submitting a form, the injected script executes in their browser context. This reflected XSS does not require authentication, making it accessible to unauthenticated attackers. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity by enabling theft of session cookies, credentials, or manipulation of displayed content, but it does not affect system availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.1, indicating a medium severity level, with attack vector as network, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and scope changed due to potential impact on other components. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported yet. The vulnerability was published on December 21, 2024, and assigned by Wordfence. No official patches or updates are linked yet, so users must monitor vendor advisories for fixes.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-12408 is on the confidentiality and integrity of users interacting with vulnerable WP on AWS plugin instances. Attackers can steal sensitive information such as session cookies, authentication tokens, or personal data by injecting malicious scripts that execute in victims' browsers. This can lead to account hijacking, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, or defacement of web content. Although availability is not directly affected, successful exploitation can erode user trust and damage organizational reputation. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, widespread automated exploitation is less likely, but targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could be effective. Organizations running WordPress sites with this plugin, especially those with high user interaction, are at risk of data breaches and compromise of user accounts. The vulnerability's network accessibility and lack of authentication requirements increase its attack surface globally.

Organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the WP on AWS plugin and its version. Until an official patch is released, administrators should implement the following mitigations: 1) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious POST requests containing script tags or typical XSS payloads targeting the plugin endpoints. 2) Use Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of injected scripts. 3) Educate users and administrators about phishing risks and the dangers of clicking untrusted links. 4) Disable or restrict the plugin if it is not essential to reduce the attack surface. 5) Monitor web server logs for unusual POST request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. 6) Follow vendor channels closely for patches or updates and apply them promptly once available. 7) Consider implementing input validation and output encoding at the application level if custom development is feasible. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate protective controls and user awareness.