CVE-2024-3811 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the ThemeNectar Salient Shortcodes plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting the 'icon' shortcode. The flaw exists due to insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes, allowing authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. When other users access these pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data theft. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.5.3. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4 reflects that the attack vector is network-based, requires low attack complexity, and privileges at the contributor level, with no user interaction needed. The scope is changed because the vulnerability can affect other users beyond the attacker. While no known exploits are currently reported, the vulnerability poses a significant risk in multi-user WordPress environments where contributors can add content. The lack of output escaping and input validation in the shortcode's implementation is the root cause, highlighting a common web application security weakness (CWE-79).

The primary impact of this vulnerability is on the confidentiality and integrity of user data within affected WordPress sites. Attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser, potentially stealing cookies, session tokens, or performing actions on behalf of other users. This can lead to account takeover, defacement, or unauthorized data access. Since the vulnerability requires contributor-level access, it is less likely to be exploited by external unauthenticated attackers but poses a significant insider threat or risk from compromised contributor accounts. The vulnerability does not directly affect availability but can indirectly disrupt site operations through malicious payloads or reputation damage. Organizations relying on this plugin for content management or marketing may face data breaches or loss of user trust if exploited. The scope includes all users who view the injected content, expanding the potential victim pool.

To mitigate CVE-2024-3811, organizations should immediately update the Salient Shortcodes plugin to a patched version once available. In the absence of an official patch, administrators should restrict contributor-level permissions to trusted users only and audit existing content for suspicious shortcode usage. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting the 'icon' shortcode parameters can reduce risk. Additionally, site owners should enforce Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution sources. Regularly scanning the site for injected scripts and monitoring user activity logs can help detect exploitation attempts. Developers maintaining the plugin should apply proper input validation and output encoding on all shortcode attributes to prevent script injection. Finally, educating contributors about secure content practices and limiting plugin usage to essential features can further reduce attack surface.