CVE-2024-56268 in Post Grid Elementor Addon Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in WP Hait Post Grid Elementor Addon allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Post Grid Elementor Addon: from n/a through 2.0.18.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-56268 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WP Hait Post Grid Elementor Addon plugin, specifically classified as a stored XSS vulnerability under the CWE-79 category. This weakness occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize user input during the generation of web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the application's output. The vulnerability impacts all versions of the Post Grid Elementor Addon plugin from the initial release through version 2.0.18, indicating a long-standing issue that has remained unaddressed for an extended period.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can submit malicious input through the plugin's interface that gets stored within the application's database or server-side storage. When other users view pages generated by the plugin, the malicious script executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. The flaw directly violates the principle of input validation and output encoding, which are fundamental security practices in web application development.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-56268 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive user data and session information. When exploited, this vulnerability allows threat actors to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, potentially compromising the entire WordPress site's security posture. The vulnerability's presence in Elementor-based websites creates widespread exposure since Elementor is one of the most popular page builder plugins for WordPress, making the attack surface particularly large. Organizations using affected versions of the plugin face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and potential complete compromise of their web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 2.0.19 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, including client-side and server-side sanitization of all user inputs, and proper output encoding for dynamic content. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Organizations should also conduct regular security audits of their WordPress installations, monitor for suspicious activities, and maintain up-to-date security practices including regular updates to all plugins and themes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage, demonstrating the multi-faceted nature of the threat landscape. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper input validation practices in web application development.