CVE-2024-9449 identifies a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Auto iFrame plugin for WordPress, developed by gregross. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), specifically through the 'tag' parameter, which lacks sufficient input sanitization and output escaping. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.7. An attacker with authenticated access at the Author level or higher can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages by manipulating the 'tag' parameter. Because the malicious script is stored persistently, it executes every time a user visits the infected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing actions on behalf of users without their consent. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting medium severity, with an attack vector over the network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges (Author or above), no user interaction, and a scope change. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin's presence in many sites. The vulnerability does not affect availability but impacts confidentiality and integrity. The lack of a patch link suggests a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation steps.

The impact of CVE-2024-9449 is primarily on the confidentiality and integrity of affected WordPress sites. Successful exploitation allows an authenticated Author-level user to inject persistent malicious scripts, which execute in the context of other users visiting the compromised pages. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information such as cookies or credentials, unauthorized actions performed with victim user privileges, and potential lateral movement within the site. For organizations, this can result in data breaches, defacement, loss of user trust, and compliance violations. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access, the risk is higher in environments with multiple contributors or less stringent access controls. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability can affect components beyond the initially compromised plugin, potentially impacting the entire WordPress site. Although no availability impact is noted, the reputational and operational consequences can be significant, especially for high-traffic or business-critical websites.

To mitigate CVE-2024-9449, organizations should first check for and apply any official patches or updates from the plugin vendor once available. In the absence of a patch, immediate steps include restricting Author-level access to trusted users only and auditing existing user roles to minimize privilege exposure. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block malicious script injections targeting the 'tag' parameter can reduce exploitation risk. Site administrators should conduct thorough code reviews and sanitize or escape user inputs manually if custom modifications exist. Regularly scanning the website for injected scripts or anomalous content can help detect exploitation early. Additionally, enforcing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can limit the impact of injected scripts by restricting script sources. Educating content authors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and monitoring user activity logs for suspicious behavior further strengthens defenses. Finally, maintaining regular backups enables quick restoration if compromise occurs.