CVE-2026-24632 identifies a DOM-based Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Delay Redirects plugin developed by jagdish1o1, affecting all versions up to and including 1.0.0. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user input during the generation of web pages, which allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the Document Object Model (DOM) of a victim's browser. Unlike traditional reflected or stored XSS, DOM-based XSS occurs entirely on the client side, making detection and mitigation more challenging. When a user interacts with a crafted URL or input, the malicious script executes in their browser context, potentially enabling attackers to steal cookies, session tokens, or perform actions on behalf of the user without their consent. The plugin's role in redirecting users with delays makes it a vector for attackers to embed malicious payloads in URLs or parameters that are processed insecurely. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and thus could be targeted by attackers. The lack of a CVSS score necessitates an assessment based on the vulnerability's characteristics: it affects confidentiality and integrity, is relatively easy to exploit without authentication, and can impact any user interacting with affected web pages. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for websites relying on the Delay Redirects plugin for user navigation or marketing purposes, as exploitation could undermine user trust and data security.

For European organizations, exploitation of this DOM-based XSS vulnerability could lead to significant security incidents including data theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users. This could result in loss of customer trust, regulatory penalties under GDPR for data breaches, and potential financial losses. Websites using the Delay Redirects plugin as part of their user flow or marketing campaigns are at risk of being leveraged as attack vectors. The impact extends to both public-facing websites and internal portals if the plugin is used internally. Additionally, the ability to execute scripts in users' browsers can facilitate further attacks such as phishing or malware distribution. Given the widespread use of WordPress and its plugins across Europe, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of sectors including e-commerce, government, education, and healthcare. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the public disclosure increases the risk of future exploitation attempts.

1. Monitor for official patches or updates from the plugin developer and apply them immediately once available. 2. In the absence of patches, implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied data processed by the plugin, ensuring that potentially dangerous characters are neutralized before rendering. 3. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 4. Conduct regular security audits and code reviews of the plugin usage and integration to identify and remediate insecure handling of inputs. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on suspicious links, especially those involving redirects. 6. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the Delay Redirects plugin with a more secure alternative until a fix is available. 7. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block XSS payloads targeting this plugin. 8. Implement HTTP-only and secure flags on cookies to reduce the risk of session hijacking if an XSS attack occurs.