CVE-2024-4364 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Qi Addons For Elementor plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.7.2. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input in the plugin's button widgets, specifically due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages generated by the plugin. When other users access these pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, defacement, or distribution of malware. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond visiting the affected page but does require the attacker to have authenticated access with at least contributor privileges, which is a moderate barrier. The CVSS v3.1 score of 6.4 reflects a medium severity, considering the network attack vector, low attack complexity, and privileges required. The scope is changed since the vulnerability affects all users viewing the injected content. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The plugin is widely used in WordPress sites globally, increasing the potential attack surface. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, a common and well-understood web application security issue. No official patches were linked at the time of disclosure, so mitigations rely on access control and monitoring until updates are available.

The impact of CVE-2024-4364 on organizations can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the Qi Addons For Elementor plugin. Successful exploitation allows attackers with contributor-level access to inject persistent malicious scripts, which execute in the browsers of any users visiting the compromised pages. This can lead to theft of authentication cookies, enabling session hijacking and unauthorized access to user accounts, including potentially administrative accounts if session cookies are stolen. It can also facilitate defacement, phishing attacks, or distribution of malware, damaging organizational reputation and user trust. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access, the risk is higher in environments with weak access controls or where contributor accounts are easily compromised or granted too liberally. The vulnerability affects confidentiality and integrity but not availability directly. Organizations with high-traffic websites, e-commerce platforms, or those handling sensitive user data are at greater risk. The widespread use of WordPress and this plugin means many organizations globally could be impacted if the vulnerability is exploited at scale.

To mitigate CVE-2024-4364 effectively, organizations should: 1) Immediately restrict contributor-level privileges to trusted users only and review existing user roles to minimize unnecessary access. 2) Monitor and audit user-generated content, especially button widgets, for suspicious or unauthorized script injections. 3) Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting WordPress plugins. 4) Apply principle of least privilege to all WordPress user accounts and enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users with elevated privileges. 5) Regularly update the Qi Addons For Elementor plugin as soon as a security patch becomes available from the vendor. 6) Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 7) Educate site administrators and contributors about the risks of XSS and safe content management practices. 8) Conduct regular security scans and penetration tests focusing on plugin vulnerabilities and user input handling. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and layered defenses until official patches are released.