CVE-2024-12852 in Happy Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/08/2025
The Happy Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'ha_cmc_text' parameter of the Happy Mouse Cursor in all versions up to, and including, 3.15.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, 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 • 04/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-12852 affects the Happy Addons for Elementor plugin, specifically within the Happy Mouse Cursor feature of the plugin. This issue represents a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that exists in all versions up to and including 3.15.1, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this plugin. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, allowing malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the WordPress environment.
The technical flaw manifests through the 'ha_cmc_text' parameter which is processed within the Happy Mouse Cursor functionality. When authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher submit content containing malicious scripts through this parameter, the vulnerability allows these scripts to be stored within the WordPress database. The absence of proper input validation and output escaping means that when legitimate users access pages containing this stored malicious content, the injected scripts execute in their browsers without any additional interaction required from the victim. This stored nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as the malicious code persists and can affect multiple users over time.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to compromised WordPress installations, potentially escalating their privileges or using the platform as a launchpad for further attacks. The requirement for only Contributor-level access demonstrates how this vulnerability can be exploited by users who may not have administrative privileges, making it particularly concerning for WordPress sites with multiple user roles and collaborative editing environments.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The issue also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments, as attackers can use the stored XSS to deliver malicious payloads that can compromise user sessions. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by updating to the latest version of the Happy Addons plugin where the input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms have been properly implemented. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, output escaping, and regular security audits of third-party plugins can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.
The security implications of CVE-2024-12852 underscore the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date WordPress plugins and implementing robust security practices. Given that the vulnerability affects a widely-used plugin and requires minimal privileges to exploit, it represents a significant risk to WordPress sites that have not yet patched this vulnerability. System administrators and security teams should conduct immediate assessments of their WordPress installations to identify any instances of the vulnerable plugin and ensure prompt deployment of the security patch provided by the plugin developers.