CVE-2024-4849 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the ValvePress WordPress Automatic Plugin, a popular plugin used to automate content posting on WordPress sites. The vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically involving the 'autoplay' parameter. Versions up to and including 3.94.0 fail to adequately sanitize and escape this parameter, allowing authenticated users with Contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. When a page containing the injected script is accessed by any user, the malicious code executes in their browser context. This can lead to a range of attacks including session hijacking, privilege escalation, defacement, or distribution of malware. The vulnerability requires authentication but no user interaction beyond visiting the affected page. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting medium severity, with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, privileges required at the contributor level, no user interaction, and a scope change due to impact on other users. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk given the widespread use of WordPress and this plugin. The lack of a patch link suggests that users must monitor vendor updates or apply manual mitigations.

The impact of CVE-2024-4849 is primarily on the confidentiality and integrity of affected WordPress sites. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the site, potentially stealing session cookies, defacing content, or redirecting users to malicious sites. Since the vulnerability is stored XSS, the injected payload persists and affects all users visiting the compromised pages, amplifying the risk. Organizations relying on the ValvePress WordPress Automatic Plugin for content automation may face reputational damage, data leakage, and increased risk of further attacks leveraging the compromised site as a launchpad. The requirement for authenticated Contributor-level access limits the attack surface somewhat, but many WordPress sites have multiple contributors or allow user registrations that could be abused. The vulnerability does not affect availability directly but can indirectly cause service disruption through defacement or administrative lockout. Given the global popularity of WordPress, the threat is widespread and can affect organizations of all sizes, especially those with active content contributors.

To mitigate CVE-2024-4849, organizations should first check for and apply any official patches or updates released by ValvePress for the WordPress Automatic Plugin. In the absence of a patch, administrators should consider temporarily disabling the plugin or restricting Contributor-level permissions to trusted users only. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns in the 'autoplay' parameter can help reduce exploitation risk. Site administrators should audit user roles and permissions to minimize the number of users with Contributor or higher access. Additionally, employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can limit the impact of injected scripts by restricting script execution sources. Regular security scanning and monitoring for unusual activity or injected scripts on pages generated by the plugin are recommended. Finally, educating contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforcing strict input validation on user-generated content can further reduce exposure.