CVE-2024-9384 identifies a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Quantity Dynamic Pricing & Bulk Discounts plugin for WooCommerce, a popular WordPress extension used to manage dynamic pricing and bulk discounts in online stores. The vulnerability stems from the plugin’s use of the WordPress add_query_arg function without proper escaping of user-supplied input in URL parameters. This improper neutralization of input (classified as CWE-79) allows unauthenticated attackers to craft malicious URLs containing arbitrary JavaScript code. When a victim clicks such a link, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including 3.8.0. Exploitation requires no authentication but does require user interaction (clicking a malicious link). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, indicating a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed. The scope is changed (S:C) because the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, such as user sessions or data. No patches or official fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date (October 4, 2024).

The primary impact of this vulnerability is on the confidentiality and integrity of users interacting with affected WooCommerce sites. Attackers can steal session cookies, impersonate users, or perform actions on their behalf by executing malicious scripts in the victim’s browser. This can lead to account takeover, unauthorized purchases, or exposure of sensitive user data. While availability is not directly impacted, the loss of trust and potential data breaches can cause reputational damage and financial losses for e-commerce businesses. Since WooCommerce powers a significant portion of online stores globally, especially small to medium enterprises, the attack surface is broad. The requirement for user interaction limits automated exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as phishing campaigns can effectively deliver malicious URLs. The vulnerability also poses risks to customers and administrators of affected sites, potentially undermining the security of the entire e-commerce ecosystem relying on this plugin.

1. Immediate mitigation involves updating the Quantity Dynamic Pricing & Bulk Discounts plugin to a patched version once available from the vendor. Monitor vendor announcements for official patches. 2. Until a patch is released, implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious query parameters containing script tags or JavaScript event handlers targeting the vulnerable plugin’s URL patterns. 3. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 4. Educate users and administrators about phishing risks and encourage cautious behavior regarding clicking on unknown or suspicious links. 5. Review and sanitize all user inputs and URL parameters in custom code or other plugins to reduce overall XSS exposure. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on input validation and output encoding in WordPress plugins. 7. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the vulnerable plugin if immediate patching is not feasible and risk is high.