CVE-2024-53744 in Elementor Image Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/02/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Skybootstrap Elementor Image Gallery Plugin allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Elementor Image Gallery Plugin: from n/a through 1.0.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-53744 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Skybootstrap Elementor Image Gallery Plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through 1.0.3. This weakness resides in the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user input during the web page generation process, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent script code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability manifests as a stored XSS attack vector, meaning that malicious scripts are permanently stored on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed, rather than requiring immediate user interaction with a malicious link. The issue directly maps to CWE-79, which defines the improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary cause of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. This classification places the vulnerability within the context of the OWASP Top Ten under category A03: Injection, specifically targeting the XSS category that has been consistently ranked as one of the most prevalent web application security flaws.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Elementor Image Gallery Plugin's handling of user-supplied data. When users create or modify gallery configurations through the plugin's administrative interface, the system fails to sufficiently sanitize parameters that are later rendered in HTML output contexts. This allows attackers to submit malicious payloads through various input fields such as image captions, gallery titles, or other configurable elements that are subsequently stored in the database. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, the script persists and executes automatically for every user who views the affected gallery page. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond the initial injection, as the malicious script executes automatically when the compromised page loads, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where multiple users access shared administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-53744 extends beyond simple script execution, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of website content, and redirection to malicious sites. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that the impact is sustained over time, potentially affecting numerous users who access the compromised website without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. Attackers could use this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify gallery content to display malicious advertisements, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent backdoors within the website's infrastructure, particularly if the affected plugin is used in conjunction with other vulnerable components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for credential harvesting, enabling attackers to establish long-term access to the compromised website and potentially expand their foothold within the broader network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-53744 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches to resolve the input sanitization issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that enforce strict sanitization of all user-supplied data before storage and rendering, particularly focusing on HTML encoding of output contexts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all installed plugins and themes to identify potential similar weaknesses, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security gaps within the website's architecture. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while web application firewalls should be configured to block suspicious script injection attempts. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed, thereby limiting the damage that can be caused by successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that all components of the website infrastructure remain protected against similar vulnerabilities.