CVE-2024-7056 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WPForms WordPress plugin, affecting all versions before 1.9.1.6. The root cause is the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape certain settings fields, which allows high-privilege users—specifically administrators—to inject malicious JavaScript code that is stored and later executed in the context of other users or administrators. This vulnerability is notable because it bypasses the typical WordPress security control of the unfiltered_html capability, which is often disabled in multisite environments to prevent script injection. The attack vector requires the attacker to have administrator privileges and involves user interaction, such as viewing the affected settings page where the malicious script executes. The CVSS v3.1 score of 3.5 reflects a low severity, considering the attack complexity is low but requires high privileges and user interaction. The impact primarily affects confidentiality and integrity by potentially allowing session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions via script execution. Availability is not impacted. No public exploits have been reported, indicating limited current exploitation. The vulnerability was reserved in July 2024 and published in November 2024. WPForms is a widely used form-building plugin for WordPress, making this vulnerability relevant to many websites, especially those with multisite configurations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-7056 depends largely on the extent of WPForms usage and the security posture of their WordPress installations. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker with admin rights to execute arbitrary JavaScript, leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. This could compromise sensitive customer data, internal communications, or website integrity. In multisite environments common in large enterprises or hosting providers, the risk is amplified because the vulnerability bypasses the unfiltered_html restriction, potentially affecting multiple sites under one network. Although the severity is rated low, the presence of high-privilege attackers or insider threats could elevate the risk. European organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, and government that rely on WordPress and WPForms are particularly at risk. The reputational damage and regulatory consequences under GDPR for data breaches caused by such vulnerabilities could be significant.

The primary mitigation is to update WPForms to version 1.9.1.6 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Organizations should audit their WordPress installations to identify and upgrade all instances of WPForms. Additionally, restrict administrator access to trusted personnel only and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as MFA to reduce the risk of credential compromise. In multisite environments, review and tighten user role assignments and capabilities to minimize unnecessary admin privileges. Implement web application firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious script injections in form settings. Regularly monitor logs for unusual admin activity or unexpected changes in plugin settings. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the impact of any injected scripts. Finally, conduct security awareness training for administrators to recognize and report suspicious behavior.