CVE-2024-2181 in Beaver Builder Addons Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/10/2024
The Beaver Builder Addons by WPZOOM plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the Button widget in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.4 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 • 04/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2181 affects the Beaver Builder Addons by WPZOOM plugin for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of web applications built on this platform. This issue exists within the Button widget functionality and impacts all versions up to and including 1.3.4, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by malicious actors with relatively low privilege levels. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization measures and insufficient output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data before it is processed and rendered within the application interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a stored cross-site scripting attack pattern where authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher can inject malicious scripts into the plugin's Button widget functionality. These scripts become permanently stored within the application's database and execute whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected content, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability specifically targets the input validation and output escaping processes, which are fundamental security controls designed to prevent malicious code execution in web applications. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting vulnerability where the flaw allows an attacker to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users, making it a direct threat to application security and user data integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, they can potentially escalate their privileges, access sensitive user information, or redirect users to malicious websites designed to harvest credentials or install additional malware. The threat is particularly concerning because it requires only contributor-level access, which is often granted to trusted users who may not be fully aware of the security implications of their actions. This vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor within the WordPress environment that can be exploited repeatedly until patched, making it a significant risk to organizations that rely on the Beaver Builder plugin for their website development and content management operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-2181 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.3.5 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish comprehensive access controls to limit contributor-level privileges to only trusted individuals. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, while implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as the malicious scripts can be used to execute commands and potentially escalate privileges within the compromised environment. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar XSS vulnerabilities across their entire WordPress ecosystem, ensuring that such flaws are identified and remediated before they can be exploited by malicious actors.