CVE-2024-4265 in Master Addons Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2024
The Master Addons – Free Widgets, Hover Effects, Toggle, Conditions, Animations for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘url’ parameter in versions up to, and including, 2.0.5.9 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level permissions and above, 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 • 04/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4265 affects the Master Addons plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.0.5.9. This plugin provides various frontend elements including widgets, hover effects, toggles, conditions, and animations for the Elementor page builder platform. The security flaw manifests as a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that exploits the 'url' parameter within the plugin's functionality. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to WordPress sites that utilize this plugin, as it allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject malicious scripts into the application's data storage. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a common weakness in web applications where untrusted data is improperly handled and subsequently executed in the context of a user's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When users with contributor privileges or higher submit data containing malicious scripts through the 'url' parameter, the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize this input before storing it in the database. Additionally, the output escaping mechanisms are inadequate to prevent the execution of injected scripts when the stored data is later rendered on web pages. This combination of weaknesses creates a persistent threat where malicious code becomes part of the site's legitimate content and executes automatically whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected data. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that contributor-level permissions are sufficient to exploit this weakness, making it accessible to users who typically have limited administrative capabilities but can still cause significant damage.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-4265 extends beyond simple script injection as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of user browsers. When victims access pages containing the stored malicious scripts, these scripts can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, defacing content, or even establishing further attack vectors within the compromised environment. The vulnerability operates through the ATT&CK framework's technique T1566 which involves social engineering and credential harvesting through malicious web content. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts remain persistent until manually removed from the database, potentially affecting all users who access the compromised pages. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple contributors or editors may have access to the content management system, as the attack surface expands with each authorized user who can potentially inject malicious content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-4265 should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to the latest version of the Master Addons plugin where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement strict input validation and output escaping measures across all plugin components that handle user-supplied data, particularly focusing on URL parameters and other fields that accept external input. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting contributor-level permissions to only those users who absolutely require such access, reducing the potential attack surface. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with rules specifically designed to detect and block cross-site scripting attempts can provide an additional layer of protection. Security monitoring should include regular scanning of stored content for malicious script patterns, and administrators should establish procedures for reviewing and validating all content modifications, particularly those involving URL parameters or external link handling. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date plugins and implementing comprehensive security controls for all components of WordPress installations, as even seemingly minor vulnerabilities can provide attackers with significant access privileges.