CVE-2024-23511 identifies a DOM-based Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in POSIMYTH The Plus Addons for Elementor Page Builder Lite, a popular WordPress plugin used to enhance Elementor page builder functionality. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into the DOM, which executes in the context of the victim's browser when they visit a compromised or crafted page. The vulnerability affects versions up to 5.3.3, with no specific earliest affected version identified. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.5, indicating medium severity, with vector metrics AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L. This means the attack can be launched remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires the attacker to have some privileges (likely a low-level user), and requires user interaction (such as clicking a link). The scope is changed, indicating that exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. Impact includes partial loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, such as theft of session tokens, defacement, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for websites using this plugin, which is common in WordPress environments for building rich page content. Since Elementor and its addons are widely used, the attack surface is significant. The vulnerability can be exploited by tricking authenticated users into visiting malicious URLs or pages, leading to script execution in their browsers. This can facilitate further attacks like session hijacking, phishing, or malware distribution.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-23511 can be substantial, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with The Plus Addons for Elementor Page Builder Lite. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, data leakage, and potential defacement or disruption of web services. This can damage brand reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR breaches due to data exposure), and cause operational downtime. E-commerce platforms, media companies, and public sector websites using this plugin are particularly at risk. The vulnerability's requirement for low privileges and user interaction means that attackers can leverage social engineering to target employees or customers. Given the interconnected nature of European digital infrastructure, compromised sites can also serve as vectors for broader attacks or malware distribution. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it is not trivially exploitable without some user involvement and limited privileges, somewhat reducing immediate risk but still necessitating prompt remediation.

1. Monitor POSIMYTH and Elementor plugin vendor channels for official patches addressing CVE-2024-23511 and apply updates promptly once available. 2. Until patches are released, implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data processed by the plugin, especially in custom code or theme overrides. 3. Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS payloads. 4. Limit user privileges on WordPress sites to the minimum necessary, reducing the risk posed by low-privilege attackers. 5. Educate users and administrators about phishing and social engineering tactics that could trigger exploitation via user interaction. 6. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans focusing on WordPress plugins and themes to detect outdated or vulnerable components. 7. Use Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting known XSS patterns to provide an additional layer of defense. 8. Review and harden WordPress security configurations, including disabling unnecessary features and enforcing strong authentication mechanisms.