CVE-2024-9452 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, found in the Branding plugin of the lolitaframework for WordPress. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0. The root cause is insufficient sanitization and escaping of SVG file uploads, which allows authenticated users with Author-level privileges or higher to upload SVG files containing malicious JavaScript code. When these SVG files are accessed by any user, the embedded scripts execute in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions within the WordPress site. The attack vector is remote over the network, with low attack complexity, requiring only authenticated access at the Author level or above, and no user interaction beyond viewing the SVG file. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity but not availability. The scope is considered changed because the vulnerability can affect other users beyond the attacker. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, indicating medium severity. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites using this plugin, especially those with multiple users and varying privilege levels. The vulnerability highlights the risks of improper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly when handling complex file formats like SVG that can embed scripts.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-9452 is the potential compromise of user accounts and site integrity through stored XSS attacks. Attackers with Author-level access can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of any user viewing the infected SVG files, including administrators. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information such as cookies or tokens, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims, and potential spread of malware. For organizations, this can result in data breaches, loss of user trust, defacement, or further compromise of the WordPress environment. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access, insider threats or compromised accounts pose a significant risk. The medium CVSS score reflects moderate impact, but the ability to affect multiple users and escalate privileges can amplify damage. Organizations relying on the lolitaframework Branding plugin, especially those with high user interaction or multiple privilege levels, face increased risk of exploitation. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate future risk.

To mitigate CVE-2024-9452, organizations should first check for and apply any available patches or updates from the lolitaframework vendor once released. In the absence of patches, immediate steps include disabling the Branding plugin or restricting SVG file uploads to trusted users only. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on SVG uploads, preferably using libraries designed to safely parse and clean SVG content to remove embedded scripts. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution contexts and reduce the impact of potential XSS payloads. Limit user privileges by enforcing the principle of least privilege, ensuring only necessary users have Author-level or higher access. Monitor logs for unusual SVG upload activity and conduct regular security audits of uploaded files. Educate users about the risks of uploading untrusted SVG files. Additionally, consider using web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting SVG-based XSS attacks to provide an additional layer of defense.