CVE-2024-9505 in Beaver Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
The Beaver Builder – WordPress Page Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's Button widget in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.4.2 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.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9505 affects the Beaver Builder WordPress plugin, specifically targeting the Button widget functionality within versions up to and including 2.8.4.2. This represents a critical security flaw that enables malicious actors with contributor-level privileges or higher to execute stored cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an exploitable pathway for persistent script injection attacks. The affected plugin serves as a popular page builder tool for WordPress sites, making this vulnerability particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of the software across various web platforms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the Button widget's handling of user-supplied attributes where insufficient validation and sanitization permits malicious input to be stored within the WordPress database. When authenticated users with contributor privileges or higher create or modify pages using the affected plugin, they can inject malicious JavaScript code through the button attributes that are then stored persistently. This stored content executes whenever any user accesses the affected page, creating a server-side code injection scenario that violates fundamental web security principles. The vulnerability specifically manifests when user-provided data flows directly into HTML output without proper escaping, creating an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can execute in the context of the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to affected WordPress installations. Contributors and above typically have significant editing capabilities within WordPress environments, making this attack vector particularly dangerous for sites with multiple user roles or those that do not properly enforce role-based access controls. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that once injected, the malicious code will execute for any user who visits the compromised page, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the WordPress environment. This vulnerability can be leveraged to escalate privileges, steal administrator credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites, all while remaining undetected within standard security monitoring systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-9505 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Administrators should implement comprehensive user access controls and regularly audit user roles to minimize the potential attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 (Phishing via Service) when used in social engineering campaigns. Additional defensive measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers, regular security scanning of WordPress installations, and monitoring for unauthorized page modifications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while maintaining regular backups to facilitate recovery from potential compromise scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in content management systems where user-generated content processing is common.