CVE-2024-2084 in HT Mega Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
The HT Mega – Absolute Addons For Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's lightbox widget in all versions up to, and including, 2.4.6 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 • 04/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2084 affects the HT Mega plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting the lightbox widget functionality within versions up to and including 2.4.6. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user inputs and escape output data, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vector that can be leveraged by authenticated attackers. The vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user-supplied attributes within the lightbox widget component, where insufficient validation allows malicious code to be stored and executed in the context of the victim's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization practices within the plugin's codebase, particularly in how it processes and stores user-provided parameters for the lightbox widget. When administrators or users with contributor-level permissions and above create or modify content using the lightbox functionality, they can inject malicious script code into attributes that are subsequently stored in the WordPress database. This stored content becomes persistent and executes whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected script, making it a classic case of stored cross-site scripting vulnerability. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the plugin's rendering mechanism where user inputs are directly incorporated into HTML output without proper escaping or validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress sites utilizing the affected plugin, as it provides attackers with a means to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat that can be used for session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of content, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only contributor-level permissions, which is relatively low access privilege, making it particularly dangerous for sites where multiple users have editing capabilities. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that target specific users or all visitors, potentially leading to widespread compromise of the WordPress installation's security posture.
Organizations and site administrators should immediately update to the latest version of the HT Mega plugin where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing comprehensive input validation for all user-supplied data and ensuring that all dynamic content is properly escaped before being rendered in HTML output contexts. Security practitioners should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection patterns, while monitoring for unauthorized modifications to plugin components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be addressed through proper defense-in-depth strategies including regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to include potential privilege escalation and data exfiltration scenarios. Attackers can leverage the stored XSS to manipulate the WordPress admin interface, access sensitive user data, or establish backdoors for continued access. The persistence of the vulnerability means that even after initial exploitation, the malicious scripts remain active until the affected plugin components are properly updated and cleaned. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for high-traffic WordPress sites where the potential for widespread impact increases significantly. System administrators should also consider implementing role-based access controls to limit the number of users with contributor-level permissions, reducing the attack surface for such vulnerabilities while maintaining necessary operational functionality.