CVE-2024-5215 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the HT Mega – Absolute Addons For Elementor plugin for WordPress, maintained by devitemsllc. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 2.5.5 due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79). Specifically, multiple widgets within the plugin fail to adequately sanitize and escape user-supplied attributes, allowing malicious scripts to be stored persistently in the website's content. An attacker with authenticated contributor-level access or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages or posts. When other users visit these compromised pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond visiting the infected page and does not require higher privilege than contributor-level, which is a relatively low threshold in WordPress environments. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required, no user interaction, and a scope change. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the widespread use of WordPress and this popular plugin increases the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, especially those that allow user-generated content. Mitigation involves updating the plugin once a patch is released or applying manual input sanitization and output escaping controls. Additionally, restricting contributor privileges and monitoring for suspicious content injections can reduce risk.

The impact of CVE-2024-5215 on organizations worldwide can be significant, particularly for those relying on WordPress sites with the HT Mega – Absolute Addons For Elementor plugin installed. Successful exploitation allows attackers to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors and administrators. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information such as authentication cookies, unauthorized actions performed with victim privileges, defacement, or distribution of malware. The vulnerability compromises confidentiality and integrity but does not directly affect availability. Since contributor-level access is sufficient to exploit the flaw, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts pose a substantial risk. Organizations with large editorial teams or open contributor models are especially vulnerable. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component, potentially impacting the entire site. Although no active exploitation has been reported, the medium severity and ease of exploitation make this a credible threat that could be leveraged in targeted attacks or automated campaigns. Failure to address this vulnerability could result in reputational damage, data breaches, and increased incident response costs.

To mitigate CVE-2024-5215 effectively, organizations should: 1) Monitor for and apply updates to the HT Mega – Absolute Addons For Elementor plugin as soon as a security patch is released by the vendor. 2) Until a patch is available, restrict contributor-level and higher privileges to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious content injection. 3) Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting the affected widgets. 4) Conduct regular content audits to identify and remove suspicious or unauthorized script injections in posts and pages. 5) Employ security plugins that provide input sanitization and output escaping enhancements for WordPress content management. 6) Educate content contributors about safe content practices and the risks of injecting untrusted code. 7) Use Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on the website. 8) Monitor logs and user activity for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. These targeted steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on privilege management, proactive detection, and layered defenses specific to WordPress environments and this plugin’s context.