CVE-2024-2132 in Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2024
The Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the Image Widget in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.0 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 • 04/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2132 affects the Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor WordPress plugin, specifically targeting the Image Widget functionality within versions up to and including 1.4.0. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits the plugin's inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms, creating a persistent cross-site scripting attack vector. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only contributor-level privileges or higher to exploit, making it accessible to users who should normally have limited administrative capabilities within a WordPress environment. The flaw exists in how the plugin processes user-supplied attributes, failing to properly validate or sanitize inputs before rendering them in web pages, which allows malicious code to be stored and executed in a persistent manner.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to apply proper security controls when handling user inputs through the Elementor widget interface. When contributors or higher-privileged users create or modify pages using the Image Widget, they can inject malicious scripts into attributes that are then stored in the WordPress database. These stored scripts execute every time any user accesses the affected pages, creating a persistent threat that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate to more severe attacks. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, specifically targeting the failure to properly escape dynamic content before rendering it in web browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious scripts, they can potentially steal user cookies, hijack sessions, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute additional attacks against the underlying WordPress installation. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the attack remains active until the malicious code is manually removed from the database, making it particularly dangerous for websites with high user interaction or those hosting sensitive data. This vulnerability also represents a significant concern for multi-user WordPress environments where contributor roles are commonly granted to content editors, as these users can inadvertently or maliciously compromise the entire site.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-2132 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement strict role-based access controls to minimize the number of users with contributor privileges, as this reduces the attack surface for this particular vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough audits of existing pages to identify and remove any potentially compromised content, while implementing web application firewalls or content security policies to detect and block malicious script execution. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1546.001 which involves the use of system binary proxies, and T1059.007 which covers scripting languages, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both the exploitation vector and potential post-compromise activities. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect similar weaknesses in other plugins or themes that may present similar attack surfaces.