CVE-2024-2085 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 'size' value in several widgets 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 HT Mega plugin for WordPress represents a popular collection of addons that extend the functionality of the Elementor page builder platform. This particular vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.4.6, making it a significant concern for WordPress administrators who rely on this plugin for their website functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, specifically targeting the 'size' parameter used across multiple widgets. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher to exploit this weakness and inject malicious scripts into the website's content. This represents a critical security risk because contributors typically have the ability to create and edit posts, which means they can potentially compromise the entire website's security infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this stored cross-site scripting vulnerability occurs when an attacker with sufficient privileges submits a malicious payload through the 'size' parameter in various widgets. The plugin fails to properly sanitize this input before storing it in the database, and subsequently fails to escape the output when rendering the content on web pages. This dual failure creates a persistent XSS vulnerability where the malicious script is stored and executed whenever any user accesses a page containing the injected content. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content. The attacker's script execution can occur in any user context, including administrators, making the potential impact severe. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once the malicious code is injected, it will persistently affect all users who view the compromised pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and further privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. Attackers could potentially use the compromised contributor accounts to gain access to sensitive administrative functions, modify content, or even install backdoors for persistent access. The vulnerability's reach is amplified by the fact that many WordPress websites rely heavily on contributor-level users for content management, making this attack vector particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have contributor permissions. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even if the initial attack occurs on one page, the malicious code will continue to execute on all pages containing the compromised content until the vulnerability is patched and the malicious input is removed. This makes the vulnerability particularly challenging to detect and remediate, as the malicious code can remain active for extended periods without immediate detection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the HT Mega plugin to version 2.4.7 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization and escaping fixes. Administrators should also implement strict user permission controls, limiting contributor-level access to only essential functionality and regularly auditing user accounts for unauthorized access. Input validation should be enhanced at multiple levels including server-side validation of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in widget configurations. Output escaping mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure that all dynamic content is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for malicious scripts in content management systems, with particular attention to recently modified pages or content created by users with elevated permissions. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits can help detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top 10 2021 category A03:2021 - Injection and the broader principles of secure coding practices.