CVE-2024-5757 identifies a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in the Elementor Header & Footer Builder plugin for WordPress, specifically in all versions up to and including 1.6.35. The vulnerability is due to improper neutralization of input (CWE-79) in the url attribute of the Site Title widget, where insufficient input sanitization and output escaping allow an attacker to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. This vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher, who can insert malicious scripts that persist in the website content. When other users visit the affected pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality and integrity with a scope change. No public exploits are currently known, but the widespread use of Elementor and the relatively low privilege required to exploit this vulnerability increase its risk profile. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in WordPress plugins, especially those that allow user-generated content or configuration via authenticated users.

The impact of CVE-2024-5757 can be significant for organizations running WordPress sites with the Elementor Header & Footer Builder plugin. Successful exploitation allows attackers with low-level authenticated access to inject persistent malicious scripts, which execute in the browsers of site visitors and administrators. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement, unauthorized actions performed with victim privileges, and potential lateral movement within the site’s administrative interface. For e-commerce, membership, or other sensitive WordPress sites, this could result in data breaches, loss of customer trust, and reputational damage. Since the vulnerability requires only Contributor-level access, it lowers the barrier for exploitation compared to vulnerabilities requiring administrator privileges. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability can affect components beyond the initially vulnerable plugin, potentially impacting the entire WordPress site’s confidentiality and integrity. Although no known exploits are currently reported, the risk of exploitation is elevated due to the popularity of Elementor and the common use of the Header & Footer Builder plugin in many WordPress installations worldwide.

To mitigate CVE-2024-5757, organizations should immediately update the Elementor Header & Footer Builder plugin to a version that addresses this vulnerability once available. In the absence of an official patch, administrators should restrict Contributor-level and higher permissions to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious script injection. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious script injections targeting the url attribute in the Site Title widget can provide temporary protection. Additionally, site administrators should audit existing content for injected scripts and remove any suspicious code. Employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help limit the impact of injected scripts by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regularly monitoring logs and user activities for unusual behavior related to content changes or script injections is recommended. Finally, educating site editors and contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforcing strict input validation on custom widgets or plugins can reduce future vulnerabilities.