CVE-2024-0834 in Elementor Addon Elements Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2024
The Elementor Addon Elements plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the link_to parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.12.11 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor access or higher, 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 • 02/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0834 affects the Elementor Addon Elements plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 1.12.11. This represents a significant security weakness that could compromise the integrity of WordPress installations relying on this plugin. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into web pages.
The technical flaw manifests through the link_to parameter which fails to properly sanitize user input before processing. This parameter is particularly dangerous because it accepts data from authenticated users who possess contributor-level privileges or higher within the WordPress environment. The insufficient sanitization means that malicious scripts can be stored within the plugin's data handling mechanisms and subsequently executed whenever legitimate users access pages containing the injected content. This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability operates at the server-side processing level where user-provided data is not adequately validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to WordPress site administrators and their users. Attackers with contributor access or higher can exploit this weakness to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as these injected scripts could perform various malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's persistence means that once exploited, the malicious scripts remain active until manually removed from the affected pages, potentially compromising multiple users over extended periods.
The security implications of CVE-2024-0834 align with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. This classification indicates that the vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and output escaping practices within the plugin's code. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1566.001 - Phishing with Social Engineering, as attackers could leverage this weakness to create malicious pages that appear legitimate to end users, or under T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, where the injected scripts could execute commands on compromised systems. Organizations should immediately update to the latest plugin version to address this vulnerability, implement additional monitoring for suspicious user activities, and consider restricting contributor-level access to plugin management functions until the update is complete. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content within content management systems.