CVE-2024-13867 identifies a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Listivo - Classified Ads WordPress Theme developed by TangibleWP. This vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically insufficient sanitization and escaping of the 's' parameter used in search or query functionalities. When an unauthenticated attacker crafts a malicious URL containing a script payload in the 's' parameter and convinces a user to click it, the injected script executes in the context of the victim's browser. This can lead to theft of sensitive information such as cookies or session tokens, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.3.67 of the theme. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.1, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and a scope change. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity but does not affect availability. No patches or official fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, a common and well-understood web application security weakness. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of classified ads themes, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk to websites using this theme without mitigation.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-13867 is on the confidentiality and integrity of users interacting with vulnerable websites. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the victim’s browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of authentication tokens, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. This can undermine user trust and lead to data breaches or fraudulent activities. Although availability is not directly impacted, the reputational damage and potential regulatory consequences can be significant. Organizations running classified ads or e-commerce platforms using the Listivo theme are at risk of targeted phishing campaigns leveraging this vulnerability. The ease of exploitation (no authentication required, low complexity) increases the likelihood of attacks, especially if users are tricked into clicking malicious links via email or social media. The scope of affected systems is limited to websites using the vulnerable theme, but given WordPress’s global market share, the potential attack surface is substantial.

To mitigate CVE-2024-13867, organizations should first check for updates or patches from TangibleWP and apply them promptly once available. In the absence of official patches, site administrators can implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the 's' parameter. Input validation and output encoding should be enforced at the application level, sanitizing all user-supplied input before rendering it in HTML contexts. Employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts. Additionally, educating users to avoid clicking suspicious links and monitoring web server logs for unusual query parameters can aid in early detection. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on XSS vulnerabilities are recommended. Backup and incident response plans should be updated to address potential exploitation scenarios. Finally, consider isolating or replacing the vulnerable theme with a more secure alternative if immediate patching is not feasible.