CVE-2024-12738 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WordPress plugin 'User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor' developed by reflectionmedia. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.12.9. The root cause is insufficient sanitization and escaping of user meta parameters during web page generation, which allows unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into user profile pages. When a legitimate user visits a page containing the injected script and clicks on a link to display user meta information, the malicious script executes in their browser context. This can lead to a range of attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects components beyond the vulnerable plugin itself, potentially impacting user sessions and data confidentiality and integrity. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of WordPress and this plugin for user registration and profile management. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for interim mitigations.

The impact of CVE-2024-12738 is primarily on the confidentiality and integrity of user data on affected WordPress sites. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information such as cookies or credentials, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, and defacement of web content. This can erode user trust, damage brand reputation, and lead to regulatory compliance issues, especially for sites handling personal or financial data. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction (clicking a link), social engineering or phishing tactics may be used to increase exploitation success. The vulnerability does not directly impact availability but can indirectly cause service disruptions if exploited for defacement or injection of malicious payloads. Organizations relying on this plugin for user management are at risk, particularly those with high user engagement or sensitive user data. The broad deployment of WordPress globally means the potential attack surface is large, affecting small businesses, enterprises, and government websites alike.

1. Monitor for official patches or updates from reflectionmedia and apply them promptly once available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict or disable the affected plugin if feasible, especially on high-risk or sensitive sites. 3. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with robust XSS detection and blocking capabilities to filter malicious input and output. 4. Conduct a thorough audit of user input handling and output encoding in custom code or additional plugins to prevent similar issues. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking suspicious links, especially those leading to user meta pages. 6. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts. 7. Regularly scan the website with security tools to detect injected scripts or anomalous behavior. 8. Limit user permissions and roles to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. 9. Maintain regular backups to enable quick recovery in case of defacement or compromise.