CVE-2024-7122 in Elementor Addon Elements Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/30/2024
The Elementor Addon Elements plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via multiple widgets in all versions up to, and including, 1.13.6 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7122 affects the Elementor Addon Elements plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 1.13.6. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of web applications built on the WordPress platform. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system through stored cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires only contributor-level access or higher, making it accessible to users who should normally have restricted privileges within the WordPress administration interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user-supplied attributes within multiple widgets. When authenticated users with contributor permissions or higher submit content through these widgets, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape the input data before storing it in the database. This stored data then gets rendered on subsequent page views without adequate protection measures, allowing malicious scripts to execute in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw specifically manifests in how the plugin processes and displays user-generated content, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be triggered whenever affected pages are accessed.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for WordPress sites utilizing the Elementor Addon Elements plugin. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit pages containing the compromised content. The implications extend beyond simple script execution as these attacks can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within compromised networks. The vulnerability affects all users who access pages containing the malicious content, making it particularly dangerous for sites with high user traffic or those serving sensitive information. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, the malicious code persists until manually removed, creating a long-term security risk for affected installations.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-7122 primarily involve immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control measures to limit contributor-level privileges to only trusted individuals, as this vulnerability requires such access to exploit effectively. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to identify suspicious script injections, while regular security audits of WordPress installations should include checks for vulnerable plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in cybersecurity best practices. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to provide an additional layer of protection against script execution, and conduct thorough security assessments of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist within their WordPress environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for scripting, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through web-based interfaces, making it a significant concern for defenders implementing comprehensive security postures.