CVE-2024-12517 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the prontotools WooCommerce Cart Count Shortcode WordPress plugin, specifically in all versions up to and including 1.0.4. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied input in the 'cart_button' shortcode attributes, which allows an authenticated attacker with contributor-level or higher privileges to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages generated by the plugin. Because the malicious script is stored, it executes whenever any user accesses the infected page, potentially compromising user sessions or manipulating page content. The vulnerability requires authentication but no user interaction to trigger the payload. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required, no user interaction, and a scope change. The impacts include limited confidentiality and integrity loss but no availability impact. No patches or known exploits are currently available or reported. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, indicating improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This flaw is particularly concerning for multi-user WordPress sites using this plugin, as contributors can escalate their influence by injecting malicious scripts affecting all visitors or administrators viewing the compromised content.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-12517 is the potential for attackers with contributor-level access to inject persistent malicious scripts into WordPress sites using the vulnerable WooCommerce Cart Count Shortcode plugin. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, or defacement of site content. Since the vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of data but not availability, the risk includes unauthorized data exposure and manipulation rather than service disruption. Organizations with multiple contributors or editors are at higher risk, as attackers can exploit their privileges to compromise the site and its users. The scope of affected systems includes all WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin versions, which may be widespread given WooCommerce's popularity. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential compliance issues for organizations handling sensitive customer data.

To mitigate CVE-2024-12517, organizations should first check if an updated version of the WooCommerce Cart Count Shortcode plugin is available that addresses this vulnerability and apply the update promptly. If no patch is available, administrators should consider disabling or removing the plugin until a fix is released. Restrict contributor-level privileges carefully, limiting the number of users with such access and reviewing user roles regularly to minimize the attack surface. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that detect and block suspicious script injections targeting the 'cart_button' shortcode parameters. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on the website. Conduct regular security audits and code reviews of custom shortcodes or plugins to ensure proper input validation and output encoding. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce strict content moderation policies. Monitor website logs and user activity for unusual behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Finally, maintain regular backups to enable recovery in case of compromise.