CVE-2024-51589 in Bigmart Elements Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in wpcirqle Bigmart Elements allows DOM-Based XSS.This issue affects Bigmart Elements: from n/a through 1.0.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-51589 represents a critical security flaw in the Bigmart Elements plugin for WordPress, specifically manifesting as a DOM-Based Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability. This issue arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The affected version range spans from an unspecified initial version through 1.0.3, indicating that all iterations within this scope remain susceptible to exploitation. The DOM-Based XSS nature of this vulnerability means that malicious scripts are executed within the victim's browser through manipulation of the Document Object Model rather than traditional server-side input handling methods.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters that are directly incorporated into dynamic web page content generation. When the Bigmart Elements plugin processes user interactions or parameter inputs, it fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before rendering them within the browser's DOM structure. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability operates entirely within the client-side environment, making it particularly challenging to detect through traditional server-side security measures. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious JavaScript code through URL parameters or other input vectors that the plugin does not properly sanitize before incorporating into generated web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized administrative actions. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges or gain full control over compromised user accounts, especially if the affected users have administrative privileges within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests a fundamental flaw in the input handling architecture that has not been adequately addressed through patching efforts. This creates a sustained risk for any website utilizing the Bigmart Elements plugin within the affected version range, potentially compromising thousands of users who may be unaware of the security compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through simple URL manipulation, making exploitation accessible to threat actors with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-51589 should prioritize immediate version updates to the Bigmart Elements plugin beyond version 1.0.3 where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code injection, following the principle of least privilege and input sanitization best practices. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to mitigate the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their WordPress installations to identify any other plugins or themes that may be susceptible to similar DOM-Based XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security monitoring and automated scanning should be implemented to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059.007, this vulnerability falls under the execution techniques involving scripting languages, while the persistent nature of the flaw aligns with T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content, emphasizing the multi-layered approach needed for comprehensive protection against such threats.