CVE-2024-12340 is a vulnerability identified in the Animation Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress, specifically in all versions up to and including 1.1.6. The flaw exists in the 'render' function within the widgets/content-slider.php and widgets/tabs.php files. This function improperly restricts access to Elementor template data, allowing authenticated users with Contributor-level privileges or higher to extract sensitive information including private, pending, and draft templates that should not be accessible to such roles. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, indicating exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, requiring no user interaction but does require authentication at a Contributor level or above. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to limited impact on confidentiality and no impact on integrity or availability. No patches or known exploits have been reported at the time of publication. The vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious insiders or compromised accounts to harvest unpublished content, potentially leading to information leakage or aiding further targeted attacks. The root cause is insufficient access control checks in the plugin’s rendering logic for certain widgets, which should be addressed by validating user permissions before disclosing template data.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-12340 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive unpublished Elementor template data, which can include private, pending, or draft content. For organizations, this could lead to premature exposure of confidential website content, intellectual property, or strategic communications before intended publication. Attackers with Contributor-level access could leverage this information for social engineering, competitive intelligence, or to identify weaknesses in website design and content strategy. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach can undermine trust and compliance with data protection policies. Organizations relying heavily on WordPress with Elementor and the vulnerable Animation Addons plugin are at risk, especially those with multiple contributors or less stringent access controls. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the ease of exploitation by authenticated users means insider threats or compromised contributor accounts pose a significant concern. This vulnerability may also facilitate lateral movement within compromised environments by revealing sensitive data that aids further attacks.

To mitigate CVE-2024-12340, organizations should first verify if they use the Animation Addons for Elementor plugin and identify the installed version. Since no official patch is currently available, immediate mitigation includes restricting Contributor-level and higher access to trusted users only, minimizing the number of users with such privileges. Implement strict role-based access controls and audit user permissions regularly to ensure no unnecessary elevated access is granted. Consider temporarily disabling or removing the vulnerable plugin if feasible until a patch is released. Monitor logs for unusual access patterns to Elementor templates or widget rendering functions that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, apply web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the affected widget endpoints. Stay informed about vendor updates and apply patches promptly once released. Educate content contributors about the risks of account compromise and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access. Finally, conduct regular security assessments of WordPress environments to identify and remediate similar access control weaknesses.