CVE-2024-4634 in Elementor Header & Footer Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2024
The Elementor Header & Footer Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘hfe_svg_mime_types’ function in versions up to, and including, 1.6.28 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 • 03/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4634 affects the Elementor Header & Footer Builder plugin for WordPress, a widely used tool for creating custom headers and footers in WordPress websites. This plugin is particularly prevalent among users who require advanced design capabilities for their WordPress sites. The issue stems from a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability within the 'hfe_svg_mime_types' function, which exists in plugin versions up to and including 1.6.28. The vulnerability represents a critical security risk as it allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject malicious scripts into web pages that will execute whenever any user accesses those pages.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. Specifically, the 'hfe_svg_mime_types' function fails to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input when processing SVG file mime types. This inadequate sanitization creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through SVG files that are processed by the plugin. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because the malicious scripts are permanently stored within the website's database or files, making them persistent across multiple user sessions. When other users access pages containing the injected scripts, the malicious code executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the affected systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a vector for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised WordPress environment. Contributors and higher-level users typically have significant privileges within WordPress installations, including the ability to create and edit content, upload media files, and modify site structure. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can establish persistent backdoors, steal administrator credentials, modify website content, or redirect users to malicious sites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even if the initial attack vector is patched, the malicious scripts continue to execute until manually removed from the affected pages. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites that rely heavily on user-generated content or have multiple contributors with elevated privileges, as it essentially allows attackers to gain a foothold in the system that can be leveraged for extended compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-4634 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the identified XSS vulnerability. Administrators must ensure that all instances of the Elementor Header & Footer Builder plugin are updated to the latest secure version available from the official plugin repository. In addition to updating, security hardening measures should include implementing strict file upload validation to prevent SVG files with malicious content from being processed, establishing robust content filtering mechanisms, and implementing proper input sanitization throughout the application. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious activities related to file uploads or content modifications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as attackers can leverage contributor-level permissions to execute arbitrary code. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code and potentially establish persistent access through compromised user accounts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes, as this type of vulnerability is commonly found in WordPress installations where proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms are not consistently implemented across all components.