CVE-2024-9897 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the StreamWeasels Twitch Integration plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.8.6. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically within the plugin's sw-twitch-embed shortcode. This shortcode fails to adequately sanitize and escape user-supplied attributes, allowing authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into WordPress pages or posts. Once injected, the malicious scripts execute in the browsers of any users who visit the affected pages, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond visiting the infected page and does not require administrative privileges, only contributor-level access, which is commonly granted to trusted content creators. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required, no user interaction, and partial confidentiality and integrity impact. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of Twitch integrations for streaming content. The vulnerability was published on October 19, 2024, and no official patches or updates have been linked yet, so users should apply mitigations promptly.

The impact of CVE-2024-9897 is primarily on the confidentiality and integrity of affected WordPress sites and their users. Successful exploitation allows an attacker with contributor-level access to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the context of site visitors, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information such as cookies or tokens, defacement of website content, or redirection to malicious sites. This can damage the reputation of organizations, lead to data breaches, and facilitate further attacks such as phishing or malware distribution. Since contributor-level access is sufficient, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts increase risk. The vulnerability does not affect availability directly but can indirectly cause service disruption through reputational damage or cleanup efforts. Organizations relying on StreamWeasels Twitch Integration for embedding Twitch streams on WordPress sites, especially those with multiple contributors, are at risk. The scope includes any WordPress site using this plugin, which is popular among content creators and streaming communities worldwide.

To mitigate CVE-2024-9897, organizations should first check for and apply any official patches or updates from StreamWeasels as soon as they become available. In the absence of patches, administrators should restrict contributor-level permissions to trusted users only and audit existing contributors for suspicious activity. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied shortcode attributes, ideally by customizing the plugin or using a web application firewall (WAF) with rules targeting XSS payloads in shortcode parameters. Disable or remove the sw-twitch-embed shortcode if not essential. Monitor website logs and user activity for signs of injection attempts or unusual behavior. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution sources, reducing the impact of injected scripts. Regularly back up website data and maintain an incident response plan to quickly remediate any exploitation. Educate contributors about safe content practices and the risks of XSS vulnerabilities.