CVE-2024-49262 in Country Flags for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/17/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in wepic Country Flags for Elementor allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Country Flags for Elementor: from n/a through 1.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-49262 represents a critical security flaw in the wepic Country Flags for Elementor plugin that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This issue stems from improper input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the plugin's output. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of the Country Flags for Elementor plugin ranging from an unspecified initial version through 1.0.1, indicating that all versions within this range are potentially exploitable. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts are permanently embedded within the plugin's data storage, making them persistent across user sessions and potentially affecting multiple visitors to the compromised website.
This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, commonly known as cross-site scripting. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a web application vulnerability exploitation technique under the T1190 category, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. The technical flaw occurs when user-supplied input that is not properly sanitized or validated is directly incorporated into dynamically generated web content without adequate encoding or escaping mechanisms. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view pages containing the compromised content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. Since the vulnerability allows stored XSS, the malicious code remains persistent in the plugin's database, meaning that every user who accesses affected pages will be exposed to the attack vector. This creates a significant risk for websites using the Country Flags for Elementor plugin, particularly those with administrative or user account functionalities, as attackers could potentially escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core web page generation process, making it difficult to contain the attack scope.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-49262 should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code injection, following security best practices outlined in OWASP guidelines for XSS prevention. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and web applications. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated plugin versions to ensure that the XSS vulnerability is completely resolved without introducing new compatibility issues. Additionally, administrators should monitor their systems for any signs of exploitation attempts and implement proper logging and monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized modifications to the affected plugin components.