CVE-2024-12591 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the MagicPost plugin for WordPress, a plugin designed to enhance article management functionality. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.2.1 due to insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes within the wb_share_social shortcode. This flaw allows authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. Because the malicious script is stored, it executes every time any user accesses the compromised page, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or other malicious actions targeting site visitors or administrators. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity level, with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction, and a scope change (S:C). The impact affects confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No patches have been linked yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild, though the risk remains significant due to the ease of exploitation by authenticated users. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in WordPress plugins, especially those that process user-generated content or attributes.

The primary impact of this vulnerability is the potential for attackers with contributor-level access to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of users viewing the affected pages. This can lead to theft of authentication cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information, enabling further compromise of user accounts or site administration. It can also facilitate unauthorized actions on behalf of users, such as content manipulation or redirection to malicious sites. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access, the attack surface is limited to environments where multiple users contribute content, such as multi-author blogs or corporate intranets using WordPress. However, the scope change in CVSS indicates that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the attacker’s privileges once exploited. The lack of user interaction requirement means the attack can be automated or triggered simply by visiting a page. Organizations relying on the MagicPost plugin risk data breaches, reputational damage, and potential regulatory consequences if sensitive user data is exposed or manipulated.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first check for updates or patches from the MagicPost plugin vendor and apply them promptly once available. In the absence of an official patch, administrators should consider disabling the wb_share_social shortcode or restricting contributor-level access until a fix is released. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious script injections in shortcode attributes can provide temporary protection. Additionally, reviewing and tightening user roles and permissions to limit contributor access can reduce the risk. Site administrators should also audit existing content for injected scripts and remove any malicious code. Employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help mitigate the impact of injected scripts by restricting script execution sources. Finally, educating contributors about safe content practices and monitoring logs for unusual activity can help detect exploitation attempts early.