CVE-2024-1419 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified in The Plus Addons for Elementor, a popular WordPress plugin used to enhance Elementor page builder capabilities. The vulnerability specifically targets the '_id' attribute of the Header Meta Content widget, where insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied input allow malicious scripts to be stored persistently on the website. An attacker with contributor-level or higher privileges can exploit this by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. When other users visit these pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability does not require user interaction to trigger once the page is loaded, and it can affect the confidentiality and integrity of user data. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4 reflects that the attack vector is network-based, with low complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity with a scope change. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the widespread use of WordPress and this plugin increases the risk of future exploitation. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 5.4.0, and no official patches are currently linked, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-1419 is the potential compromise of user data confidentiality and integrity on websites using the vulnerable plugin. Attackers with contributor-level access can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the context of users visiting the affected pages. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information such as cookies or credentials, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, and website defacement. Although availability is not directly affected, the reputational damage and potential regulatory consequences from data breaches can be significant. Organizations relying on this plugin for their WordPress sites, especially those with multiple contributors or editors, face increased risk. The vulnerability's exploitation requires authenticated access, limiting exposure to internal or trusted users, but insider threats or compromised contributor accounts can be leveraged. Given the widespread adoption of WordPress and Elementor, the scale of affected systems is considerable, potentially impacting small businesses, enterprises, and content-heavy websites globally.

To mitigate CVE-2024-1419, organizations should first verify if they use The Plus Addons for Elementor plugin and identify the version in use. Since no official patch links are currently available, immediate mitigation includes restricting contributor-level and higher privileges to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious script injection. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data, especially for the '_id' attribute in the Header Meta Content widget, either through custom code or security plugins that enforce sanitization. Employ a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting this plugin. Monitor logs for suspicious activity from contributor accounts and conduct regular security audits of user-generated content. Educate content editors about the risks of injecting untrusted code. Once an official patch is released, apply it promptly. Additionally, consider disabling or removing the vulnerable widget if it is not essential to reduce the attack surface. Regularly update WordPress core, themes, and plugins to maintain overall security hygiene.