CVE-2024-8546 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the ElementsKit Elementor addons plugin for WordPress, specifically within the Video widget component. This vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes, allowing malicious JavaScript code to be injected and stored persistently in the website's content. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 3.2.7. An attacker with contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this by embedding arbitrary scripts into pages, which then execute in the context of any user who views the infected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing actions on behalf of users. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and requiring privileges but no user interaction. The scope is changed, indicating the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No public exploit code or active exploitation has been reported yet. The vulnerability was published on September 25, 2024, and assigned by Wordfence. Due to the widespread use of WordPress and Elementor addons, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites using this plugin without updates or mitigations.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-8546 is the potential for attackers with limited authenticated access to inject persistent malicious scripts into WordPress sites using the ElementsKit Elementor addons plugin. This can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, defacement, phishing, or malware distribution. For organizations, this can result in reputational damage, data breaches involving user credentials or personal information, and potential regulatory non-compliance. Since the vulnerability requires contributor-level access, it may be exploited internally by malicious insiders or through compromised accounts. The scope change means that the impact can extend beyond the immediate plugin, potentially affecting other site components or users. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the medium severity and ease of exploitation with low complexity make it a credible threat, especially for high-traffic or sensitive websites. Organizations relying on this plugin for content management or marketing may face service disruption or loss of user trust if exploited.

1. Immediate upgrade: Update the ElementsKit Elementor addons plugin to a version where this vulnerability is patched once available. Monitor vendor announcements for official patches. 2. Access control review: Restrict contributor-level permissions to trusted users only and audit existing user roles to minimize risk exposure. 3. Input validation: Implement additional server-side input sanitization and output escaping for user-generated content, especially in the Video widget or similar components. 4. Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy or update WAF rules to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts targeting the vulnerable plugin. 5. Content Security Policy (CSP): Implement strict CSP headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on the website. 6. Monitoring and logging: Enable detailed logging of user actions and monitor for unusual behavior or content changes indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Incident response planning: Prepare to respond to potential XSS incidents, including user notification and site cleanup procedures. 8. Backup and recovery: Maintain regular backups of website content and configurations to enable quick restoration if compromise occurs. These steps, combined, reduce the risk of exploitation and limit potential damage.