CVE-2024-1414 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Exclusive Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress, specifically within the Call To Action widget. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), where the plugin fails to adequately sanitize and escape user-supplied input before rendering it on pages. Authenticated attackers possessing contributor-level or higher privileges can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages via the vulnerable widget. Once injected, the malicious script executes in the context of any user who visits the affected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.6.9 of the plugin. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality and integrity with no effect on availability. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Elementor and its addons in WordPress sites. The flaw's exploitation scope is limited by the prerequisite of authenticated contributor-level access, which reduces the likelihood of remote anonymous exploitation but still presents a threat within compromised or insider environments. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on March 13, 2024, and no official patches have been linked yet, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation steps.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-1414 is the compromise of confidentiality and integrity on affected WordPress sites using the Exclusive Addons for Elementor plugin. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of site visitors, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information such as cookies or credentials, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, and website defacement. For organizations, this can result in loss of customer trust, data breaches, and reputational damage. Since the vulnerability requires contributor-level access, the risk is heightened in environments where user accounts are shared, poorly managed, or where attackers have already gained limited access. The vulnerability does not affect availability directly but can be leveraged as a stepping stone for further attacks. Given the popularity of WordPress and Elementor, many websites globally could be impacted, especially those that do not promptly update or restrict user privileges. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate widespread impact but does not eliminate the risk of targeted attacks or future exploit development.

To mitigate CVE-2024-1414, organizations should first verify if they are using the Exclusive Addons for Elementor plugin and identify the version in use. Immediate steps include: 1) Restrict contributor-level and higher privileges to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of insider or compromised accounts exploiting the flaw. 2) Monitor and audit user activity for suspicious content injections or unexpected changes in pages using the Call To Action widget. 3) Apply any available updates or patches from the plugin vendor as soon as they are released. 4) If patches are not yet available, consider temporarily disabling the vulnerable widget or the entire plugin to prevent exploitation. 5) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting the affected plugin. 6) Educate site administrators and content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce strict content validation policies. 7) Regularly back up website data to enable recovery in case of compromise. These measures, combined, reduce the attack surface and limit the potential damage until a permanent fix is applied.