CVE-2024-12622 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WordPress Simple Shopping Cart plugin developed by wptipsntricks. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 5.0.7 due to insufficient sanitization and output escaping of user-supplied attributes in the plugin's 'wp_cart_button' and 'wp_cart_display_product' shortcodes. This flaw allows authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages generated by these shortcodes. When other users visit these pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), a common web application security issue. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality and integrity with a scope change. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to WordPress sites using this plugin, especially those allowing contributor-level user roles. The plugin's widespread use in e-commerce contexts increases the attractiveness of this vulnerability to attackers seeking to compromise customer data or site integrity.

The impact of CVE-2024-12622 can be significant for organizations running WordPress sites with the vulnerable Simple Shopping Cart plugin. Successful exploitation allows attackers with contributor-level access to inject persistent malicious scripts, which execute in the browsers of site visitors or administrators. This can lead to theft of authentication cookies, enabling session hijacking and unauthorized access. Attackers may also manipulate page content, redirect users to phishing or malware sites, or perform actions on behalf of victims, undermining trust and brand reputation. Although availability is not directly affected, the confidentiality and integrity of user data and site content are at risk. For e-commerce sites, this could result in financial fraud, data breaches, and regulatory compliance violations. The requirement for authenticated access limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially on sites with multiple contributors or weak access controls. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests a window for proactive mitigation before widespread attacks occur.

To mitigate CVE-2024-12622, organizations should first verify if they use the WordPress Simple Shopping Cart plugin and identify the installed version. Since no official patch is currently available, immediate steps include restricting contributor-level permissions to trusted users only and auditing user roles to minimize the number of users with write access to shortcodes. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts targeting the affected shortcodes. Site administrators should sanitize and validate all user inputs related to the plugin manually or via custom code until an official update is released. Monitoring logs for unusual activity or changes in shortcode content can help detect exploitation attempts early. Additionally, educating contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforcing strict content review policies can reduce the likelihood of exploitation. Once a patch is released, apply it promptly and test the site for residual vulnerabilities. Regular backups and incident response plans should be in place to recover from potential compromises.