CVE-2024-5611 identifies a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Stratum – Elementor Widgets plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.4.1. The vulnerability is located in the 'label_years' attribute of the Countdown widget, where insufficient input sanitization and output escaping allow authenticated users with Contributor-level privileges or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. This malicious code is stored persistently and executed whenever any user accesses the affected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of users. The vulnerability leverages CWE-79, a common web application weakness related to improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.4 reflects that the attack vector is network-based, requires low attack complexity, privileges at the Contributor level, no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity with a scope change. No patches are currently linked, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild, but the vulnerability's presence in a widely used WordPress plugin makes it a notable risk. The plugin's popularity in website building and e-commerce contexts increases the potential attack surface. Mitigation requires either updating the plugin once a patch is released or implementing strict input validation and limiting Contributor-level access to trusted users. Monitoring for suspicious activity and employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with XSS detection rules can also help reduce risk.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-5611 is the compromise of confidentiality and integrity within affected WordPress sites. An attacker with Contributor-level access can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors and administrators, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement, or unauthorized actions performed with the victim's privileges. This can erode user trust, damage brand reputation, and expose sensitive data. Since the vulnerability does not affect availability directly, denial-of-service is less of a concern. However, the ability to execute arbitrary scripts can facilitate further attacks, including phishing or malware distribution. Organizations relying on the Stratum – Elementor Widgets plugin for critical business websites, especially e-commerce or customer-facing portals, face increased risk of data breaches and compliance violations. The ease of exploitation by authenticated users means insider threats or compromised contributor accounts can be leveraged. The scope of affected systems is broad given WordPress's global market share and the plugin's usage, potentially impacting thousands of websites worldwide.

1. Monitor the vendor's official channels for a security patch and apply updates immediately once available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict Contributor-level access to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious script injection. 3. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on the 'label_years' attribute if custom code or filters are used. 4. Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting WordPress plugins. 5. Regularly audit user roles and permissions to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. 6. Conduct security awareness training for contributors to recognize and avoid unsafe content practices. 7. Use security plugins that can scan for injected scripts or anomalous content within WordPress pages. 8. Monitor logs and user activity for suspicious behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 9. Consider disabling or replacing the vulnerable plugin if immediate patching is not feasible. 10. Backup website data regularly to enable recovery in case of compromise.