CVE-2024-51575 in Extender All In One for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Abdullah Extender All In One For Elementor allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Extender All In One For Elementor: from n/a through 1.0.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Abdullah Extender All In One For Elementor plugin, specifically targeting the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes. The issue manifests as a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages that are then executed by other users. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of how user-supplied data can be exploited to compromise web applications. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user input that is subsequently rendered in web pages, creating a persistent attack vector that can affect multiple users over time.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When administrators or users input data through the plugin's interface, this data is stored in the system and later retrieved to generate web pages without adequate security measures to prevent malicious script execution. The attack surface is particularly concerning because stored XSS vulnerabilities can persist for extended periods, allowing attackers to execute malicious code in the context of affected users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability affects all versions from the initial release through version 1.0.3, indicating that the security flaw has been present for some time without proper mitigation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to compromise entire user sessions and potentially gain administrative privileges within the affected WordPress environment. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts through the plugin's input fields, which are then stored and executed whenever affected users view the compromised web pages. This creates a persistent threat that can be leveraged to steal cookies, modify content, redirect users to malicious sites, or even install backdoors. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used Elementor extension means that the potential attack surface is significant, as many websites rely on Elementor for their page building capabilities, making this a high-risk issue for website owners and administrators.
Mitigation strategies for this stored XSS vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.0.4 or later, as this would address the root cause of the input sanitization failure. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as content security policies, input validation, and output encoding to reduce the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual input patterns or attempts to inject malicious scripts into web applications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through malicious input, and represents a clear example of how insufficient input validation can create persistent security risks in content management systems. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other plugins or components of the web application stack, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in preventing cross-site scripting attacks.