The ElementsKit Pro plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to DOM-Based Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘url’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.7.8 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This situation poses a significant risk, as it could lead to unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of legitimate users.
The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 6.4, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is through the network, and the complexity of the attack is low, making it relatively easy for an attacker with the appropriate privileges to exploit this vulnerability. Organizations using this plugin should be aware of the potential risks and take immediate action to remediate the issue.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The ElementsKit Pro plugin's version 3.7.9 and above will address this vulnerability. Regular updates and security assessments are essential to protect against such vulnerabilities.
As of the current analysis, there are no known exploits or proofs of concept available for this vulnerability. However, the absence of known attacks does not diminish the importance of patching and securing affected systems.
Vulnerability Details
The ElementsKit Pro plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to DOM-Based Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘url’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.7.8 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This vulnerability allows attackers with Contributor-level access and above to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation). The CVSS score of 6.4 indicates a medium severity, with the attack vector being network-based and the attack complexity rated as low.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the ElementsKit Pro plugin. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs to inject scripts that execute in the context of authenticated users.
The attack vector is network-based, requiring no user interaction for the exploitation to occur. The complexity of the attack is low, as attackers with low privileges can perform the attack, increasing the risk of successful exploitation.
The impact of this vulnerability is categorized as low for both confidentiality and integrity, with no impact on availability. Organizations must monitor their systems for any signs of exploitation and ensure proper security controls are in place.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access and potential data theft, as attackers could execute scripts to manipulate user sessions or retrieve sensitive data. The potential blast radius for this vulnerability is significant, especially for organizations using the affected plugin extensively.
Given the CVSS score of 6.4 and the fact that this vulnerability is not included in the KEV catalog, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate risks.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. Regular vulnerability assessments and updates are essential to maintain a secure environment.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects all versions of the ElementsKit Pro plugin for WordPress prior to version 3.7.9.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should update the ElementsKit Pro plugin to version 3.7.9 or later to remediate this vulnerability.
If a patch is not available, organizations should consider implementing input validation and output encoding for any user-provided data, particularly for the ‘url’ parameter.
Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate similar vulnerabilities.
For more comprehensive security, organizations can explore services like penetration testing to validate their security posture.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unusual behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts, such as unexpected script executions or unauthorized access to user accounts.
Additionally, monitoring network traffic for signs of DOM-Based XSS exploitation attempts can provide valuable insights into potential vulnerabilities.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The ElementsKit Pro plugin vulnerability represents a common attack vector for web applications, highlighting the importance of input validation and output escaping. Security teams should regularly review and update their security practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
This incident serves as a reminder to organizations to invest in comprehensive security measures and to prioritize regular updates and security assessments. For additional insights, organizations can refer to the following resources: vulnerability management program design, penetration testing methodology, and web application penetration testing guides.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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