CVE-2024-3053 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Forminator – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.29.2. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically insufficient sanitization and escaping of the 'id' attribute used in the forminator_form shortcode. Authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into the 'id' attribute. Because the malicious script is stored, it executes every time any user accesses the compromised page, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data theft. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond visiting the infected page and does not require administrative privileges, lowering the barrier for exploitation. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, indicating a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and privileges required at the contributor level. The scope is changed, as the vulnerability affects resources beyond the attacker’s privileges. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of the plugin in WordPress environments. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input leading to XSS attacks.

The impact of CVE-2024-3053 on organizations worldwide can be significant, especially for those relying on the Forminator plugin for critical web forms such as contact, payment, or custom forms. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized script execution in users’ browsers, resulting in session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. Since contributors can exploit this vulnerability, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts pose a real risk. The integrity and confidentiality of user data and site content can be compromised, potentially damaging organizational reputation and user trust. Although availability is not directly affected, the indirect consequences of data breaches or site defacement can disrupt business operations. Organizations with large user bases or those handling sensitive data via WordPress forms are at higher risk. The vulnerability’s medium severity score reflects a moderate but non-trivial threat, emphasizing the need for timely remediation to prevent escalation or chaining with other vulnerabilities.

To mitigate CVE-2024-3053 effectively, organizations should: 1) Immediately update the Forminator plugin to a patched version once available, as no patch links are currently provided but monitoring vendor advisories is critical. 2) Restrict contributor-level permissions strictly and audit user roles to minimize the number of users who can inject malicious content. 3) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious script injections targeting the 'id' shortcode attribute. 4) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected pages. 5) Regularly scan WordPress sites for stored XSS payloads using specialized security plugins or manual code reviews. 6) Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce input validation policies. 7) Monitor logs for unusual activity related to shortcode usage or form submissions. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on role management, proactive detection, and layered defenses tailored to this specific vulnerability.