CVE-2024-51590 in Hoo Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Hoosoft Hoo Addons for Elementor allows DOM-Based XSS.This issue affects Hoo Addons for Elementor: from n/a through 1.0.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical web application security flaw classified as a cross-site scripting attack that specifically targets the DOM-based execution environment within the Hoosoft Hoo Addons for Elementor plugin. The issue manifests as an improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes, creating an exploitable condition where malicious scripts can be injected into web pages and executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability exists within the Elementor page builder extension that enhances website functionality through various addon features, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect any website utilizing this specific plugin version range. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principles of secure input validation and output encoding that form fundamental components of web application security frameworks.
The technical implementation of this DOM-based XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-provided data that gets processed and rendered within the browser's Document Object Model. When the Hoosoft Hoo Addons for Elementor plugin handles input parameters from web forms, URL parameters, or other user-supplied data, it fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before incorporating them into dynamic web page content. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability operates entirely within the browser environment without requiring server-side processing, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate through traditional server-side security measures. The issue affects all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 1.0.6, indicating a persistent flaw that was not addressed in the development cycle.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass significant threats to user privacy and website integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal user session cookies, redirect victims to malicious sites, inject phishing content, or perform unauthorized actions within the compromised website's administrative interface. The DOM-based nature of the attack means that the malicious code executes in the context of the legitimate website, making it difficult for users and security systems to distinguish between benign and malicious content. This vulnerability particularly threatens websites that rely heavily on Elementor for page construction, as the plugin's functionality is deeply integrated into the website's dynamic content generation processes. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious URLs or form submissions that contain encoded JavaScript payloads, which are then processed by the vulnerable plugin and executed when users view affected pages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention through plugin version updates and comprehensive input validation implementation. System administrators should prioritize updating the Hoosoft Hoo Addons for Elementor plugin to the latest available version that addresses this specific XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and employ input sanitization techniques that properly escape or filter user-provided data before it can be processed by the plugin. Additional defensive measures include monitoring web application logs for suspicious URL parameters, implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities, and conducting regular security assessments of third-party plugins. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial access phase through malicious web content. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security training for developers and administrators to prevent similar issues in custom code implementations, as this type of vulnerability frequently occurs due to inadequate security awareness during the development lifecycle.