CVE-2024-51629 in Header Footer Composer for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in MetricThemes Header Footer Composer for Elementor allows DOM-Based XSS.This issue affects Header Footer Composer for Elementor: from n/a through 1.0.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the MetricThemes Header Footer Composer for Elementor plugin, specifically targeting the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes. The issue manifests as a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user input parameters that are subsequently processed and rendered in the browser environment, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be executed in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and validate input parameters that are used to generate dynamic content within web pages. When users interact with the plugin's interface or when page elements are rendered, the application processes user-supplied data without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms. This allows attackers to craft malicious input that gets executed as JavaScript code within the victim's browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or malicious redirection. The DOM-based nature of this vulnerability means that the attack vector operates entirely within the browser's document object model without requiring server-side processing, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate through traditional server-side security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise user sessions and potentially escalate to full system compromise. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information that users might have in their browser sessions. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 1.0.4, indicating that the security flaw has persisted for an extended period without proper remediation. This prolonged exposure increases the risk of successful exploitation and suggests inadequate security testing or input validation processes during the plugin's development lifecycle. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the plugin integrates with Elementor, a popular page builder platform, meaning that compromised sites could potentially affect thousands of users depending on the scope of the implementation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the plugin's codebase, specifically addressing how user parameters are processed and rendered in browser environments. Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the plugin if available, or implement temporary workarounds such as input filtering at the web application firewall level. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and follows attack patterns associated with DOM-based XSS as documented in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1531. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution and monitor for suspicious input patterns in web application logs. Additionally, regular security audits of third-party plugins and components should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other integrated systems, as this type of flaw commonly occurs in web applications that fail to properly sanitize dynamic content generation processes.