CVE-2024-4553 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified in the WP Shortcodes Plugin — Shortcodes Ultimate, a popular WordPress plugin developed by gn_themes. The vulnerability specifically affects the 'su_members' shortcode, which accepts a 'color' attribute. Due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping, an authenticated attacker with contributor-level access or higher can inject arbitrary JavaScript code via this attribute. Since the injected script is stored persistently in the WordPress database, it executes in the context of any user who visits the affected page, including administrators. This can lead to theft of authentication cookies, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), highlighting the failure to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in HTML. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges, no user interaction, and partial impact on confidentiality and integrity. No patches or official fixes were linked at the time of publication, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 7.1.5 of the plugin, which is widely used in WordPress installations globally.

The impact of CVE-2024-4553 is significant for organizations running WordPress sites with the vulnerable WP Shortcodes Plugin. An attacker with contributor-level access can inject persistent malicious scripts, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data. This can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized content modification, defacement, or distribution of malware through the compromised site. Since the scripts execute in the context of any user visiting the infected page, including administrators, the risk of privilege escalation and full site compromise is elevated. The vulnerability does not affect availability directly but can cause reputational damage and loss of user trust. Organizations relying on WordPress for business-critical applications or e-commerce are particularly at risk. The requirement for authenticated access limits exposure but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with multiple contributors or weak access controls.

To mitigate CVE-2024-4553, organizations should first check for and apply any official patches or updates from the plugin vendor once available. In the absence of an immediate patch, administrators should restrict contributor-level access strictly, ensuring only trusted users have such privileges. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block malicious script injections targeting the 'su_members' shortcode can provide temporary protection. Reviewing and sanitizing existing content for injected scripts is critical to remove any persistent malicious code. Additionally, hardening WordPress security by enforcing strong authentication, limiting plugin usage, and monitoring logs for suspicious activity will reduce exploitation risk. Developers can also consider modifying the plugin code to add proper input validation and output escaping for the 'color' attribute as an interim fix. Regular security audits and user training on secure content management practices will further mitigate risks.