CVE-2024-9846 identifies a code injection vulnerability (CWE-94) in the WordPress plugin 'Enable Shortcodes inside Widgets, Comments and Experts' developed by amu02aftab. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.0.0. The root cause is the plugin's failure to properly validate input before executing the WordPress function do_shortcode. This function processes shortcodes, which are snippets of code embedded in WordPress content to perform dynamic actions. Because the plugin does not restrict or sanitize the input, an unauthenticated attacker can craft malicious shortcode payloads that get executed on the server. This arbitrary shortcode execution can lead to unauthorized code execution within the context of the WordPress site, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate site content, execute arbitrary PHP code, or perform other malicious actions depending on the shortcodes available. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without any authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.3 reflects network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:L/I:L/A:L). No patches or fixes have been linked yet, and no known exploits are publicly reported, but the vulnerability is published and should be considered a critical risk for affected sites.

The impact of CVE-2024-9846 on organizations worldwide is significant, especially for those relying on the affected WordPress plugin. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes, which can lead to unauthorized code execution, data manipulation, defacement, or even full site compromise depending on the environment and available shortcodes. This undermines the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected websites. Attackers could leverage this to inject malicious content, steal sensitive user data, or disrupt services. Given WordPress's widespread use for business, e-commerce, and informational websites, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of sectors including media, retail, education, and government. The lack of authentication and user interaction requirements means automated mass exploitation attempts are feasible, increasing the risk of large-scale attacks. Organizations with public-facing WordPress sites using this plugin are at heightened risk of reputational damage, financial loss, and regulatory consequences if exploited.

To mitigate CVE-2024-9846, organizations should immediately identify and inventory WordPress installations using the 'Enable Shortcodes inside Widgets, Comments and Experts' plugin. Since no official patch is currently linked, temporary mitigations include disabling or removing the vulnerable plugin entirely until a secure update is released. Restricting access to the WordPress admin and content submission interfaces via IP whitelisting or web application firewalls (WAFs) can reduce exposure. Implementing strict input validation and sanitization on shortcode inputs, if custom modifications are possible, can help prevent arbitrary shortcode execution. Monitoring web server and application logs for suspicious shortcode execution attempts is recommended. Additionally, organizations should keep WordPress core and all plugins updated regularly and subscribe to vulnerability advisories for prompt patching once available. Employing a WAF with rules to detect and block shortcode injection patterns can provide an additional layer of defense.