CVE-2024-13644 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified in the DethemeKit for Elementor plugin for WordPress, specifically within the De Gallery widget. This vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input and lack of proper output escaping, allowing malicious JavaScript code to be stored persistently on affected web pages. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 2.1.8. An attacker with authenticated access at the contributor level or higher can exploit this vulnerability by injecting arbitrary scripts into pages via the widget's attributes. When other users access these compromised pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, unauthorized actions, or defacement. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting medium severity, with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality and integrity with a scope change. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of WordPress and Elementor plugins. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, especially those allowing user-generated content. The issue was publicly disclosed in February 2025, with no official patch links provided at the time, emphasizing the need for immediate attention from site administrators.

The impact of CVE-2024-13644 can be significant for organizations using the DethemeKit for Elementor plugin on WordPress sites. Exploitation allows attackers with contributor-level access to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This can lead to theft of session cookies, enabling account takeover, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, defacement of websites, and potential distribution of malware. Since the vulnerability affects confidentiality and integrity without impacting availability, the trustworthiness of affected websites can be compromised. Organizations with multiple contributors or open content submission workflows are at higher risk. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks within an organization's network or to target site visitors. Given WordPress's global popularity, the potential attack surface is large, and exploitation could affect e-commerce, corporate, and informational websites, leading to reputational damage and regulatory consequences if user data is compromised.

To mitigate CVE-2024-13644, organizations should first check for and apply any official patches or updates released by the DethemeKit plugin developers as soon as they become available. In the absence of an official patch, site administrators should consider temporarily disabling the De Gallery widget or restricting contributor-level user permissions to prevent exploitation. Implementing strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the plugin's codebase is critical to prevent script injection. Employing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting the affected widget can provide interim protection. Regularly auditing user roles and permissions to minimize the number of users with contributor or higher access reduces risk. Additionally, monitoring website logs for unusual activity or injected scripts can help detect exploitation attempts early. Educating content contributors about safe content practices and potential risks also aids in prevention. Finally, maintaining regular backups ensures recovery capability in case of compromise.