CVE-2024-0326 in Premium Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2024
The Premium Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's Link Wrapper functionality in all versions up to, and including, 4.10.17 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied links. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with contributor-level and above permissions to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0326 affects the Premium Addons for Elementor WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 4.10.17. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits the plugin's Link Wrapper functionality, which is designed to wrap content with hyperlinks but has been compromised through inadequate input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's core architecture where user-supplied links are not properly sanitized before being stored in the database and subsequently rendered on web pages. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by malicious actors who have already gained contributor-level access or higher permissions within the WordPress environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping practices within the plugin's codebase. When administrators or contributors create or modify content using the Link Wrapper feature, the plugin fails to properly validate or escape user-provided URLs, allowing malicious scripts to be embedded directly into the link parameters. This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability operates through the principle that user-supplied data is not adequately filtered before being written to the database, and subsequently not properly escaped when rendered on web pages. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into legitimate pages, which then executes in the context of other users' browsers when they visit those pages. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a stored XSS variant where the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-0326 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers with contributor permissions to potentially escalate their privileges or compromise other users within the WordPress environment. When an authenticated attacker with contributor-level access or higher injects malicious code through the Link Wrapper functionality, any user who visits the affected page will execute the injected scripts in their browser context. This can lead to various malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, redirection to malicious websites, or even the installation of additional malware. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only contributor-level permissions, which are often granted to trusted users or third-party content creators within WordPress installations. This means that a relatively low-privilege attacker can cause widespread damage across the entire website's user base. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Social Engineering and T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it leverages user trust and script execution capabilities to compromise the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Premium Addons for Elementor plugin where the XSS flaw has been addressed. The recommended approach involves conducting a comprehensive audit of all user accounts with contributor-level permissions or higher to identify any potentially compromised content. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout the plugin's codebase is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect any suspicious link modifications or script injections within the affected plugin's functionality. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines, particularly focusing on input validation, output encoding, and privilege separation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across all WordPress plugins and themes in use.