CVE-2024-51580 in Clever Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/10/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in CleverSoft Clever Addons for Elementor allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Clever Addons for Elementor: from n/a through 2.2.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
The CVE-2024-51580 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the CleverSoft Clever Addons for Elementor plugin, specifically targeting the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes. This vulnerability manifests as a stored cross-site scripting attack vector that can persistently compromise user sessions and data integrity within affected WordPress environments. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input within the Elementor page builder framework, where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are rendered. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including version 2.2.1, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple releases that have not received adequate input sanitization measures.
This security weakness directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities as a result of insufficient input validation and output encoding. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads are not only executed during the initial injection phase but also persistently served to all users who access the compromised pages, creating a continuous threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly. The vulnerability exploits the fundamental principle of secure web application development where user input must be properly sanitized and encoded before being incorporated into dynamic web content to prevent malicious code execution. The specific context of Elementor page builder integration amplifies the impact as it allows attackers to inject scripts into the page generation pipeline where they can potentially access user cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive browser-based data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential data theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized administrative access within compromised WordPress installations. Attackers can leverage this stored XSS to steal administrator credentials, modify website content, inject malicious advertisements, or redirect users to phishing sites. The persistence of stored XSS attacks makes this particularly dangerous as the malicious code remains active even after the initial injection, continuously affecting all users who encounter the compromised pages. This vulnerability represents a significant threat to website owners who rely on Elementor for their page building needs, as it can compromise not only individual user experiences but also the overall security posture of entire WordPress ecosystems. The attack surface is further expanded due to the popularity of Elementor and Clever Addons plugins, which are widely deployed across various WordPress installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-51580 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization flaws, with administrators monitoring for security patches from CleverSoft. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting script execution sources and preventing unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits of user input handling within web applications should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and input validation should be strengthened to ensure all user-supplied data undergoes proper sanitization before being processed or stored. Additionally, network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious patterns associated with XSS attack attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing Web Application Firewalls to filter malicious payloads before they can be processed by the vulnerable plugin, while maintaining regular backups to ensure rapid recovery in case of successful exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly emphasizing the need for proper sanitization of all dynamic content generation processes.