CVE-2024-13578 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WP-BibTeX plugin for WordPress, maintained by zjhzxhz. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 3.0.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of user-supplied attributes within the plugin's 'WpBibTeX' shortcode. Authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages where the shortcode is used. Because the malicious script is stored persistently, it executes whenever any user accesses the compromised page, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions, steal cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or conduct further attacks within the context of the victim's browser. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting medium severity, with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges (authenticated contributor or above), no user interaction, and scope change due to affecting other users. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's presence in a popular WordPress plugin and the relatively low privilege required to exploit it make it a significant risk. The plugin’s widespread use in academic, research, and bibliographic websites increases the potential attack surface. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, especially in plugins that accept user-generated content.

The impact of CVE-2024-13578 is primarily on the confidentiality and integrity of affected WordPress sites and their users. Successful exploitation allows an attacker with contributor-level access to inject persistent malicious scripts, which execute in the browsers of any users visiting the infected pages. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of authentication tokens, unauthorized actions performed with victim user privileges, defacement, or distribution of malware. Although availability is not directly impacted, the compromise of user accounts and site integrity can cause significant operational disruption and reputational damage. Organizations relying on WP-BibTeX for bibliographic management, especially those with multiple contributors, face increased risk of insider threats or compromised contributor accounts being leveraged for attacks. The scope of affected systems is broad given WordPress’s global popularity and the plugin’s usage in academic and research communities. The requirement for authenticated access reduces the risk from anonymous attackers but does not eliminate it, as contributor accounts are common in collaborative environments. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks within the network or to pivot to higher privilege accounts.

To mitigate CVE-2024-13578, organizations should immediately update the WP-BibTeX plugin to a version that addresses the vulnerability once released by the vendor. Until a patch is available, administrators should restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only and review existing contributor accounts for suspicious activity. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block common XSS payloads in shortcode attributes can provide temporary protection. Site owners should audit all pages using the WpBibTeX shortcode for injected scripts and remove any malicious content. Enforcing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can reduce the impact of injected scripts by restricting script execution sources. Additionally, applying strict input validation and output encoding in custom code or plugin extensions can help prevent similar issues. Regular security training for contributors about safe content submission and recognizing phishing or social engineering attempts can reduce the risk of account compromise. Monitoring logs for unusual contributor activity and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all authenticated users further strengthens defenses.