CVE-2024-51675 in 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 aThemes aThemes Addons for Elementor allows DOM-Based XSS.This issue affects aThemes Addons for Elementor: from n/a through 1.0.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the aThemes Addons for Elementor plugin, specifically manifesting as a DOM-based XSS attack that exploits improper input neutralization during web page generation. The flaw occurs when the plugin fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser. This particular vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin from the initial release through version 1.0.7, indicating a persistent flaw that has remained unaddressed across multiple iterations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's inadequate handling of input parameters within the DOM manipulation processes. When users interact with elements generated by the aThemes Addons for Elementor, the plugin processes various input sources including URL parameters, form data, or dynamic content that should be properly escaped or validated before being rendered. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. This DOM-based variant is particularly concerning because it operates entirely within the browser's document object model without requiring server-side processing, making it more difficult to detect and prevent through traditional server-side input validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for sophisticated attacks within the Elementor ecosystem. Attackers could craft malicious URLs containing XSS payloads that, when visited by authenticated users with appropriate privileges, would execute commands within the context of the Elementor editor or frontend interface. This could result in unauthorized modifications to website content, data exfiltration, or the installation of backdoors through the exploitation of the plugin's administrative capabilities. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests that the underlying input sanitization mechanisms have not been properly addressed, leaving users exposed to potential attacks as long as they maintain the vulnerable plugin installation.
Security mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most effective defense mechanism against the identified threat. System administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding policies within their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being incorporated into dynamic content. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed, thereby limiting the potential impact of successful XSS attacks. Organizations utilizing the aThemes Addons for Elementor should conduct thorough security assessments of their website configurations and monitor for any suspicious activity that might indicate exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 related to spearphishing attachments and links. The DOM-based nature of the vulnerability places it within the broader category of client-side attack vectors that have become increasingly prevalent in modern web application security landscapes, where the attack surface extends beyond traditional server-side processing to include browser-based execution environments. The persistence of this flaw across multiple versions underscores the importance of regular security audits and the necessity of maintaining up-to-date software components to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in third-party plugins and frameworks.