CVE-2024-39649 in Essential Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in WPDeveloper Essential Addons for Elementor essential-addons-for-elementor-lite.This issue affects Essential Addons for Elementor: from n/a through <= 5.9.26.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2026
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the WPDeveloper Essential Addons for Elementor plugin, specifically in the lite version through version 5.9.26. The flaw represents a classic input sanitization failure that occurs during web page generation processes, making it susceptible to malicious script injection attacks. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input data that gets incorporated into dynamically generated web pages without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows CWE-79 patterns, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is improperly integrated into web page content. The issue manifests when the plugin processes user input through form fields, shortcode parameters, or other interactive elements within the Elementor page builder environment. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that gets rendered as part of the webpage output, potentially executing scripts in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's T1566 technique for initial access through social engineering, specifically targeting web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive user data, or redirect users to malicious sites. When exploited, the vulnerability allows unauthorized individuals to inject persistent scripts that can capture user credentials, manipulate page content, or establish backdoor access points. The affected version range suggests that this vulnerability has been present for an extended period, potentially exposing numerous websites to attack vectors. The lightweight nature of the plugin's implementation makes it particularly concerning as it affects a widely used page builder extension that many WordPress sites rely upon for their frontend functionality.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address this vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches to resolve the input sanitization issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being incorporated into dynamic web content. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security scanning of web applications can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should also be configured to monitor for suspicious script injection patterns, while security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on input handling and output encoding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom applications.