CVE-2024-50411 identifies a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WP Abstracts plugin, specifically within the wp-abstracts-manuscripts-manager component. This plugin is used on WordPress sites to manage abstracts, typically for academic conferences or similar events. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during the generation of web pages, allowing malicious JavaScript code to be stored in the plugin's data and subsequently executed in the browsers of users who view the affected pages. Stored XSS is particularly dangerous because the malicious payload persists on the server and can affect multiple users without requiring repeated exploitation. The affected versions include all releases up to and including 2.7.1. No CVSS score has been assigned yet, and no public patches or known exploits have been reported as of the publication date. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, redirection to malicious sites, or defacement. The attack vector does not necessarily require authentication, increasing the risk of exploitation by unauthenticated attackers. The vulnerability was reserved and published in late October 2024 by Patchstack, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. Given the plugin's use in academic and event management contexts, the impact could extend to organizations relying on these platforms for communication and data sharing.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-50411 is the compromise of confidentiality and integrity for users interacting with affected WordPress sites using the WP Abstracts plugin. Attackers can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or distribution of malware. This can damage the reputation of organizations hosting the vulnerable plugin, disrupt conference or academic event management workflows, and expose sensitive user data. The stored nature of the XSS increases the scope of impact, as multiple users can be affected without repeated attacker intervention. Additionally, attackers could leverage this vulnerability as a foothold for further attacks within the affected network. Although availability impact is generally limited in XSS cases, defacement or malicious redirects could degrade user trust and site usability. Organizations worldwide that rely on WP Abstracts for managing abstracts and manuscripts are at risk, especially those with public-facing submission or review portals.

To mitigate CVE-2024-50411, organizations should first verify if they are using WP Abstracts version 2.7.1 or earlier and upgrade to a patched version once available. In the absence of an official patch, administrators should consider temporarily disabling the plugin or restricting access to the abstracts management interface to trusted users only. Implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block common XSS payloads can reduce exploitation risk. Input validation and output encoding should be enforced at the application level to neutralize malicious scripts, especially in user-submitted content fields. Site administrators should audit existing abstracts and manuscript entries for suspicious scripts and remove any detected malicious content. Additionally, enabling Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help mitigate the impact of XSS by restricting script execution sources. Regular security scanning and monitoring for unusual activity related to the plugin are recommended. Finally, educating users and administrators about the risks of XSS and safe content handling practices will strengthen overall security posture.