CVE-2024-2249 in Element Kit for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/15/2024
The LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the LinkWrapper attribute found in several widgets in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.7.4 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping the user supplied attribute. 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 • 07/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2249 affects the LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 1.3.7.4. This represents a critical security flaw that enables authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher to execute stored cross-site scripting attacks within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability manifests through the LinkWrapper attribute present in multiple widgets, making it a widespread concern across the plugin's functionality.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When users with appropriate privileges create or modify content using the affected widgets, the LinkWrapper attribute fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before storing it in the database. This lack of proper sanitization allows malicious scripts to be persistently stored within the WordPress system, creating a persistent threat vector that remains active until manually removed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate content and potentially compromise user sessions. Since the vulnerability affects authenticated users with contributor-level permissions and above, it represents a significant risk to WordPress sites that maintain multiple user roles with varying permission levels. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that any user who accesses pages containing the malicious scripts will execute the injected code, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further privilege escalation within the WordPress environment.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output escaping as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 - Phishing via Social Media and T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts through compromised user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress ecosystem.
Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the LA-Studio Element Kit plugin to remediate this vulnerability, as no workarounds exist for the specific flaw. Administrators should also implement additional monitoring of user activity and content modifications to detect potential exploitation attempts. The recommended mitigation strategy includes conducting a thorough audit of all affected plugin installations, reviewing user permissions to ensure only trusted individuals have contributor-level access, and implementing proper input validation mechanisms throughout the WordPress environment. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other installed plugins and themes, as this represents a common pattern of security oversight in WordPress plugin development that requires continuous vigilance and proactive security measures.