CVE-2024-9027 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WPZOOM Shortcodes plugin for WordPress, specifically in the 'box' shortcode functionality. The vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. All versions up to and including 1.0.5 are affected. The root cause is insufficient sanitization and output escaping of user-supplied attributes, which allows an authenticated attacker with contributor-level access or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. This malicious code is stored persistently and executed in the context of any user who views the infected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of users. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges (contributor or above), no user interaction, and a scope change. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No public exploits have been reported yet. The vulnerability highlights the risks of insufficient input validation in WordPress plugins, especially those that allow content creation by users with limited privileges. The plugin developer has not yet released a patch at the time of this report, so mitigation relies on access control and manual code review or temporary disabling of the shortcode functionality.

The impact of CVE-2024-9027 is significant for organizations running WordPress sites using the WPZOOM Shortcodes plugin. An attacker with contributor-level access can inject persistent malicious scripts, which execute in the browsers of any visitors or administrators viewing the compromised pages. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive user information, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, and potential defacement or reputational damage. Since contributors typically have permissions to create and edit content but not publish, the vulnerability lowers the barrier for attackers to escalate their influence within the site. The scope of affected systems is broad, given the widespread use of WordPress globally and the popularity of WPZOOM plugins. Although availability is not impacted, the confidentiality and integrity of user data and site content are at risk. Organizations that rely on user-generated content workflows without strict privilege management are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits rapidly once details are public.

To mitigate CVE-2024-9027, organizations should: 1) Immediately restrict contributor-level and higher privileges to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious content injection. 2) Monitor and audit content created via the 'box' shortcode for suspicious scripts or unexpected code. 3) Temporarily disable or remove the WPZOOM Shortcodes plugin if patching is not yet available. 4) Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting shortcode attributes. 5) Encourage the plugin vendor to release a security update that properly sanitizes and escapes all user inputs in shortcode attributes. 6) Educate content creators about safe content practices and the risks of embedding untrusted code. 7) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution sources, reducing the impact of injected scripts. 8) Regularly update WordPress core and plugins to the latest versions to benefit from security fixes. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on privilege management, active monitoring, and layered defenses tailored to the shortcode injection vector.