CVE-2024-13458 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WordPress SEO Friendly Accordion FAQ plugin that includes AI-assisted content generation features. The vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically within the 'noticefaq' shortcode. This shortcode fails to adequately sanitize and escape user-supplied attributes, allowing authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. When other users access these pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially compromising session tokens, redirecting users, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.2.1 of the plugin. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required at the contributor level, no user interaction needed, and a scope change. While no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability poses a significant risk in environments where untrusted users have contributor or higher access. The issue stems from a failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding, which are critical defenses against XSS attacks. This vulnerability highlights the risks associated with plugins that dynamically generate content based on user input without rigorous security controls.

The impact of CVE-2024-13458 is primarily on the confidentiality and integrity of affected WordPress sites. Successful exploitation allows an authenticated contributor or higher to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users’ browsers. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, defacement, or distribution of malware. Since the vulnerability requires contributor-level access, it limits exploitation to environments where such permissions are granted to potentially untrusted users, such as multi-author blogs or sites with large editorial teams. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component, potentially impacting the entire site. Although availability is not directly affected, the reputational damage and potential data breaches can be severe. Organizations relying on this plugin for SEO and FAQ content generation may face increased risk of targeted attacks, especially if they do not restrict contributor access or fail to monitor injected content. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests the threat is currently low but could increase if proof-of-concept code is released.

To mitigate CVE-2024-13458, organizations should immediately update the WordPress SEO Friendly Accordion FAQ plugin to a patched version once available. Until a patch is released, administrators should restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only and audit existing content generated via the 'noticefaq' shortcode for suspicious scripts. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting this plugin can provide temporary protection. Additionally, site owners should enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts. Regularly scanning the site for injected malicious code using security plugins or external scanners is recommended. Developers maintaining similar plugins should review and enforce strict input validation and output encoding practices, especially for shortcodes and user-supplied attributes. Educating content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted code and monitoring user activity logs for unusual behavior can further reduce exploitation risk. Finally, maintaining a robust backup and incident response plan ensures quick recovery if exploitation occurs.