CVE-2024-12495 identifies a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Bootstrap Blocks for WP Editor v2 plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting the 'gtb-bootstrap/column' block. This vulnerability is due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), where the plugin fails to adequately sanitize and escape user-supplied content before rendering it on pages. Authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into the block content. Because the injected scripts are stored persistently, they execute in the context of any user who views the infected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of users. The vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to 2.5.0. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4 reflects that the attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity, requiring privileges (Contributor or above), no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity but not availability. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the attacker’s privileges. No public exploits have been reported, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin’s functionality. The vulnerability was published on January 7, 2025, and assigned by Wordfence. No official patches or updates have been linked yet, indicating the need for immediate attention from site administrators.

The impact of CVE-2024-12495 is primarily on the confidentiality and integrity of WordPress sites using the vulnerable plugin. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the browsers of site visitors or administrators, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions, or distribution of malware. Since the vulnerability requires Contributor-level access, attackers must first compromise or have legitimate access to an account with such privileges, which is common in multi-user WordPress environments. The stored nature of the XSS means the malicious payload persists and affects all users viewing the infected content, increasing the attack surface. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and facilitate further attacks such as privilege escalation or pivoting within the network. Given WordPress’s extensive use worldwide, especially in small to medium businesses and content-driven sites, the vulnerability poses a moderate but widespread risk. The lack of availability impact reduces the risk of denial-of-service but does not mitigate the serious confidentiality and integrity concerns.

To mitigate CVE-2024-12495, organizations should immediately restrict Contributor-level access to trusted users only and audit existing accounts for suspicious activity. Site administrators should monitor content created with the 'gtb-bootstrap/column' block for unexpected or suspicious scripts. Until an official patch is released, applying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block malicious script injections targeting this block can reduce risk. Implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict inline scripts and external script sources can limit the impact of injected scripts. Regularly updating WordPress core, plugins, and themes is critical; once a patch is available for this plugin, it should be applied promptly. Additionally, site owners can consider temporarily disabling or removing the vulnerable plugin if feasible. Conducting security awareness training for users with elevated privileges can help prevent credential compromise that could lead to exploitation. Finally, monitoring logs for unusual behavior related to the plugin or user accounts can aid early detection of exploitation attempts.