CVE-2024-7791 in 140+ Widgets Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/27/2024
The 140+ Widgets | Xpro Addons For Elementor – FREE plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘arrow’ parameter within the Post Grid widget in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.4.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. 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 • 03/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7791 affects the 140+ Widgets | Xpro Addons For Elementor WordPress plugin, specifically targeting the Post Grid widget functionality. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability exists in plugin versions up to and including 1.4.4.3, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators who have not yet updated their installations. The security flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms, creating an environment where malicious code can persist and execute without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation occurs through the 'arrow' parameter within the Post Grid widget, which fails to properly sanitize user input before processing. This weakness allows authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever users access pages containing the injected content. The vulnerability constitutes a stored cross-site scripting attack where the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and executed each time the affected page is loaded. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a common web application security flaw that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the WordPress environment. Contributors and higher-level users typically have the ability to create and modify content, making this attack vector particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to compromise the entire website. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that the malicious scripts will execute automatically for any user who accesses the affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further privilege escalation attacks. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves phishing with malicious attachments and links, as attackers can use this flaw to deliver malicious payloads through compromised content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7791 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping issues. WordPress administrators must ensure that all users with Contributor access or higher are properly vetted and that appropriate access controls are maintained to minimize the risk of unauthorized modifications. The fix should implement proper input validation that filters and sanitizes all user-provided parameters, particularly those used in widget configurations. Additionally, output escaping mechanisms must be strengthened to prevent malicious scripts from executing even if input validation fails. Security monitoring should include regular checks for unauthorized content modifications and implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to further restrict script execution and reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts.