CVE-2024-13701 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified in the Liveticker plugin by stklcode for WordPress, present in all versions up to and including 1.2.2. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes within the plugin's 'liveticker' 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 injected scripts are stored persistently, they execute whenever any user accesses the compromised page, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions performed in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability requires authentication but no user interaction to trigger the payload. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required at the contributor level, no user interaction, scope changed, and low impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no impact on availability. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. This issue highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in WordPress plugins, especially those handling user-generated content.

The impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running WordPress sites with the Liveticker plugin installed. Exploitation allows authenticated contributors to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors and administrators. This can lead to theft of session cookies, enabling attackers to hijack accounts with higher privileges, defacement of web content, or execution of unauthorized actions such as changing site settings or publishing malicious content. While the initial attacker requires contributor-level access, this is a relatively low privilege level often granted to trusted users or community members, increasing the risk of insider threats or compromised contributor accounts. The vulnerability does not affect availability but compromises confidentiality and integrity of the affected sites. Organizations with high-traffic WordPress sites, especially those relying on community contributions or multiple authors, face increased risk of reputational damage, data leakage, and potential downstream attacks leveraging stolen credentials or session tokens.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first check for updates from the plugin vendor and apply any available patches promptly once released. In the absence of an official patch, administrators should consider disabling or removing the Liveticker plugin until a fix is available. Restrict contributor-level permissions to trusted users only and audit existing contributor accounts for suspicious activity. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting the 'liveticker' shortcode parameters. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected pages. Additionally, review and harden input validation and output encoding practices in custom plugins or themes to prevent similar issues. Regularly monitor logs and user activity for signs of exploitation attempts. Educate contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce strict content moderation policies.