CVE-2024-3308 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 Image Grid widget's attributes in all versions up to, and including, 2.4.9 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor access or higher, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3308 affects the HT Mega plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting the Image Grid widget functionality within versions up to and including 2.4.9. This represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts through stored cross-site scripting techniques. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating a persistent threat that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to further system exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher to inject malicious JavaScript code through the Image Grid widget's attributes. When legitimate users access pages containing the injected content, the stored scripts execute in their browsers, creating a persistent XSS attack vector. This flaw operates at the application layer and directly violates security principles regarding input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as it requires only contributor access to exploit the vulnerability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that malicious scripts remain persistent in the database until manually removed, potentially affecting all users who view the compromised pages. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal user session cookies, redirect victims to malicious sites, perform actions on behalf of users, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it provides a foothold for more sophisticated attacks that could compromise entire WordPress installations or lead to data breaches.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal privileges and leverages the legitimate functionality of the plugin, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing robust input validation measures, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege management can limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving code injection and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls including web application firewalls, regular security assessments, and user education about the risks of unauthorized plugin modifications.