CVE-2024-2966 in Element Pack Elementor Addons Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/11/2024
The Element Pack Elementor Addons (Header Footer, Template Library, Dynamic Grid & Carousel, Remote Arrows) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 5.5.6 via the element_pack_ajax_search function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to extract sensitive data including password protected post details.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The Element Pack Elementor Addons plugin for WordPress represents a popular collection of extensions that enhance the functionality of the Elementor page builder. This plugin bundle includes various addons such as Header Footer, Template Library, Dynamic Grid & Carousel, and Remote Arrows, which together provide enhanced website building capabilities for WordPress users. The vulnerability identified in CVE-2024-2966 affects all versions up to and including 5.5.6, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators who rely on this plugin for their website functionality.
The technical flaw resides within the element_pack_ajax_search function, which serves as an AJAX endpoint for search functionality within the plugin. This function fails to implement proper authentication checks or access controls, allowing unauthenticated attackers to exploit the endpoint without requiring any credentials or privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization mechanisms within the plugin's AJAX handling system, creating an information disclosure channel that can be leveraged by malicious actors. This particular function appears to process search queries and return results without verifying the identity or permissions of the requesting user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to extract sensitive information from password protected posts without any authentication. This exposure creates a substantial risk for websites that rely on password protection for content security, as the vulnerability allows unauthorized access to restricted content that should only be available to authenticated users. The information disclosure extends beyond simple content access to potentially include metadata, post details, and other sensitive data that could be used for further exploitation or malicious activities. This vulnerability essentially undermines the security model of password protected content within WordPress sites using this plugin.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which covers "Information Exposure," and represents a classic case of insufficient access control. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1213.002, which involves data from cloud storage repositories, and T1566.002, which covers spearphishing through social media. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it requires no prior authentication and can be exploited through simple HTTP requests to the vulnerable AJAX endpoint. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including disabling the affected plugin functionality, applying the latest security patches, and monitoring for suspicious activity in their website logs. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party plugins before deployment in production environments.