CVE-2024-3489 in Exclusive Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
The Exclusive Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the Countdown Expired Title in all versions up to, and including, 2.6.9.4 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3489 affects the Exclusive Addons for Elementor WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.6.9.4. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes WordPress sites to reflected cross-site scripting attacks, potentially compromising the integrity and security of web applications. The vulnerability manifests within the Countdown Expired Title functionality, which serves as an entry point for malicious script injection.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When user-supplied data is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages, attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious scripts. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload is reflected off the web server back to the victim's browser, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no persistent storage of malicious code. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as reflected XSS, which is a well-documented and widely exploited weakness in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Unauthenticated attackers can craft malicious links that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, would execute the injected scripts in the victim's browser context. This creates a significant risk for WordPress administrators and users who may be tricked into clicking on compromised links, particularly through phishing campaigns or social engineering tactics. The vulnerability represents a direct threat to the confidentiality and integrity of user data and can potentially lead to full system compromise if exploited effectively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-3489 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to the latest available version where the vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping measures across all user-facing inputs within the WordPress environment. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against reflected XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training for users to recognize and avoid potentially malicious links. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, highlighting the need for proper input sanitization and output escaping as core defensive measures. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other plugins and themes, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar reflected XSS vulnerabilities.