CVE-2024-13706 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability identified in the WP Image Uploader plugin for WordPress, developed by filipmedia. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0.1. The root cause is insufficient sanitization and escaping of the 'file' parameter during web page generation, which allows an attacker to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. Since the vulnerability is reflected, the malicious script is embedded in a crafted URL or request and executed when a user clicks the link, causing the script to run in the context of the victim’s browser. The attack does not require authentication but does require user interaction, such as clicking a malicious link. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.1, reflecting medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and impact on confidentiality and integrity but not availability. The vulnerability can lead to theft of cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information, and potentially allow attackers to perform actions on behalf of the user. No public exploits have been reported yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation). The plugin is widely used in WordPress environments, which are popular globally, making this a relevant threat for many organizations relying on WordPress sites with this plugin installed.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-13706 is the compromise of user confidentiality and integrity through the execution of malicious scripts in the victim’s browser. Attackers can steal session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive data accessible via the browser, potentially leading to account takeover or unauthorized actions performed with the victim’s privileges. Although availability is not affected, the breach of trust and data leakage can damage organizational reputation and lead to regulatory compliance issues, especially for sites handling sensitive user data. Since the vulnerability is exploitable without authentication but requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to lure users into clicking malicious links. Organizations running WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin are at risk of targeted attacks, especially those with high-value user accounts or administrative interfaces exposed. The widespread use of WordPress and the plugin increases the attack surface globally, potentially affecting e-commerce, media, and corporate websites.

1. Upgrade the WP Image Uploader plugin to a patched version once available from filipmedia. Monitor official channels for updates. 2. Until a patch is released, implement strict input validation and output encoding on the 'file' parameter at the web application firewall (WAF) or reverse proxy level to block malicious payloads. 3. Deploy a Content Security Policy (CSP) that restricts the execution of inline scripts and limits script sources to trusted domains, mitigating the impact of XSS. 4. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking unknown or suspicious links, especially those containing URL parameters. 5. Regularly audit WordPress plugins for vulnerabilities and remove or replace plugins that are no longer maintained or have known security issues. 6. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual requests targeting the 'file' parameter to detect potential exploitation attempts. 7. Employ security plugins that provide XSS protection and sanitization for WordPress environments. 8. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the impact of session hijacking.