CVE-2024-0826 in Qi Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/09/2024
The Qi Addons For Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's widgets in all versions up to, and including, 1.6.7 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0826 affects the Qi Addons For Elementor WordPress plugin, representing a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability exists in all plugin versions up to and including 1.6.7, making it a widespread concern for WordPress site administrators who rely on this popular page builder extension. The flaw specifically targets the plugin's widgets functionality, which serves as a core component for creating dynamic content elements within WordPress sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with persistent execution capabilities that can affect multiple users over time.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher submit content through the plugin's widgets, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the user-supplied attributes before storing them in the database. This lack of proper sanitization creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious scripts can be stored and executed whenever legitimate users access pages containing the injected content. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of security weakness. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once injected, malicious payloads remain active until manually removed from the database, creating a persistent threat vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-0826 is particularly concerning given the privilege requirements for exploitation. Attackers need only contributor-level access or higher, which is often granted to trusted users who create content for websites. This access level is commonly available to content creators, editors, and other site contributors who may not have administrative privileges but still possess significant influence over website content. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of affected websites, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, or redirection to malicious sites. The attack surface is amplified because the injected scripts execute automatically whenever users access affected pages, making it difficult to contain the damage and trace the initial compromise. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the exploitation of web applications through cross-site scripting attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization and escaping flaws. Site administrators must ensure that all users with contributor-level permissions or higher are properly monitored and that the principle of least privilege is maintained. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the website ecosystem. Additionally, implementing content security policies and monitoring for suspicious user activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly for plugins that handle user-generated content within WordPress environments. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks.