Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a stored cross-site scripting flaw in a WordPress user-submission plugin. A logged-in user with Contributor-level access or higher could save malicious script through the buddyforms_nav shortcode. That script may run when others view the affected page, creating account, session, or content-integrity risk.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate-priority web application risk. It is not reported as exploited, but it can let a lower-privileged authenticated user place persistent script on public or internal pages.
Technical view
CVE-2024-12038 affects Post Form/Frontend Content Forms for User Submissions (UGC) through version 2.8.15. The issue is insufficient sanitization and output escaping of user-supplied buddyforms_nav shortcode attributes, classified as CWE-79. CVSS 3.1 is 6.4: network reachable, low complexity, low privileges, changed scope, low confidentiality and integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on WordPress sites running the plugin at version 2.8.15 or earlier, especially where Contributor, Author, Editor, or Administrator accounts can create pages or posts using plugin shortcodes.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not report active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked KEV. Exploitation requires authenticated Contributor-level access or higher, but successful injection can persist and execute for later page viewers.
Researcher notes
The key evidence is the shortcode attribute handling in buddyforms_nav and the WordPress Trac changeset for includes/shortcodes.php. Validate exposure defensively by reviewing versions, roles, and shortcode-bearing content, without attempting payload execution on production systems.
Mitigation direction
- Check vendor and WordPress plugin guidance for a fixed release newer than 2.8.15.
- Update affected installations once a vendor-fixed release is available.
- Restrict Contributor-level and higher access to trusted users only.
- Review content containing the buddyforms_nav shortcode for suspicious attributes.
- Remove or disable vulnerable shortcode usage where it is not required.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress sites for the affected plugin and installed version.
- Flag any installation running version 2.8.15 or earlier.
- Review users with Contributor-level or higher permissions.
- Search site content for buddyforms_nav shortcode usage.
- Confirm remediation includes proper shortcode attribute sanitization and escaping.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-12038 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N3.12.7WordfenceVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- Source timelineWordfence
Disclosed
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/ff0568e2-3a1e-4ed6-835a-37e3d07d7b63?source=cveCVE reference, Wordfence
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3244167/buddyforms/trunk/includes/shortcodes.phpCVE reference, Wordfence
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.