CVE-2024-4490 is a DOM-based stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability identified in Elegant Themes Divi Builder, Extra theme, and Divi Page Builder plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 4.25.0. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user input in the 'title' parameter during web page generation, specifically insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level or higher permissions can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. When other users access these pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially compromising session tokens, cookies, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation) and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting medium severity. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, requiring privileges of a contributor or higher but no user interaction from victims. The scope is changed as the vulnerability can affect other users beyond the attacker. No public exploits are known currently, but the widespread use of Divi Builder and related themes in WordPress sites increases the risk. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and output encoding in web applications, especially those allowing user-generated content. Since the flaw is in a popular WordPress theme and plugin, it can impact a broad range of websites, including blogs, corporate sites, and e-commerce platforms using Divi products. The vulnerability was published on May 10, 2024, and no official patches or updates are linked yet, so users should monitor vendor advisories closely.

The impact of CVE-2024-4490 is significant for organizations using Elegant Themes Divi Builder, Extra theme, or Divi Page Builder plugin in their WordPress environments. Successful exploitation allows authenticated contributors or higher to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of any user viewing the compromised page. This can lead to theft of session cookies, enabling account takeover, unauthorized actions performed with victim privileges, defacement, or distribution of malware. Since contributors can typically create and edit content, the attack surface includes many websites that allow user-generated content workflows. The vulnerability undermines the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data but does not directly affect availability. The medium CVSS score reflects that while exploitation requires some privileges, no user interaction is needed for the victim, and the attack can affect multiple users. Organizations relying on Divi Builder for critical web presence or e-commerce may face reputational damage, data breaches, or compliance issues if exploited. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, as attackers may develop exploits rapidly given the popularity of the affected products.

To mitigate CVE-2024-4490, organizations should: 1) Immediately update Elegant Themes Divi Builder, Extra theme, and Divi Page Builder plugin to the latest versions once official patches are released by Elegant Themes. 2) Until patches are available, restrict contributor-level permissions and above to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious script injection. 3) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious payloads targeting the 'title' parameter or typical XSS patterns in HTTP requests. 4) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected websites. 5) Conduct regular security audits and code reviews focusing on input sanitization and output encoding in custom themes or plugins. 6) Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce strict content moderation policies. 7) Monitor website logs and user activity for signs of anomalous behavior or injection attempts. 8) Consider disabling or limiting the use of vulnerable features if immediate patching is not feasible. These steps help reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation while awaiting vendor fixes.