PowerPack Addons for Elementor Vulnerability – Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting – CVE-2024-2492 | WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report

Q: What is the PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin?

What is the PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin? The PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin is an extension for the Elementor page builder, offering additional widgets, extensions, and templates to enhance the functionality of WordPress websites.

Q: What are the vulnerabilities affecting the PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin?

What are the vulnerabilities affecting the PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin? The vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2024-2492, CVE-2024-2491, and CVE-2024-5327, expose the plugin to various forms of cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, allowing authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages.

Q: What are the potential impacts of these vulnerabilities?

What are the potential impacts of these vulnerabilities? The vulnerabilities pose risks to website integrity and user security, potentially leading to data manipulation, unauthorized access, and compromise of website integrity

Q: How can users mitigate the risk of exploitation?

How can users mitigate the risk of exploitation? Users can mitigate the risk by promptly updating to patched versions 2.7.18, 2.7.19, or 2.7.20 of the PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin. Additionally, regular monitoring of websites for unusual behavior can help detect signs of exploitation

Q: Are there any alternative solutions available?

Are there any alternative solutions available? Temporarily disabling affected widgets or exploring alternative plugins may offer interim solutions while awaiting patches for the vulnerabilities

Q: What is the significance of staying on top of security vulnerabilities?

What is the significance of staying on top of security vulnerabilities? Staying on top of security vulnerabilities is crucial for maintaining website security and safeguarding online assets from potential exploits and attacks.

Q: How can small business owners protect their WordPress websites?

How can small business owners protect their WordPress websites? Small business owners can prioritize regular updates, proactive security measures, and investment in security plugins or automated update systems to protect their WordPress websites.

Q: Are there any recurring patterns in vulnerabilities for the PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin?

Are there any recurring patterns in vulnerabilities for the PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin? Yes, previous vulnerabilities have been identified since April 13, 2021, suggesting a recurring pattern that emphasizes the importance of proactive security measures.

Q: What steps can users take to ensure the security of their WordPress installations?

What steps can users take to ensure the security of their WordPress installations? Users can ensure the security of their WordPress installations by regularly updating all plugins to their latest versions, monitoring for unusual behavior, and implementing robust security measures

Q: Where can users find more information about the vulnerabilities and their remediation?

Where can users find more information about the vulnerabilities and their remediation? Users can refer to the Wordfence reports referenced in the blog post for more detailed information about the vulnerabilities and their remediation

By Your WP Guy | May 29, 2024

Plugin Name: PowerPack Addons for Elementor

Key Information:

Software Type: Plugin
Software Slug: powerpack-lite-for-elementor
Software Status: Active
Software Author: ideaboxcreations
Software Downloads: 2,358,863
Active Installs: 100,000
Last Updated: June 11, 2024
Patched Versions: 2.7.18, 2.7.19, 2.7.20
Affected Versions: <= 2.7.19

Vulnerability 1 Details:

Name: PowerPack Addons for Elementor <= 2.7.18
Title: Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Twitter Tweet Widget
Type: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CVE: CVE-2024-2492
CVSS Score: 6.4
Publicly Published: May 29, 2024
Researcher: Wesley
Description: The PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the Twitter Tweet widget in all versions up to, and including, 2.7.18 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This 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.
References: Wordfence Report

Vulnerability 2 Details:

Name: PowerPack Addons for Elementor <= 2.7.17
Title: Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via _html_tag
Type: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CVE: CVE-2024-2491
CVSS Score: 6.4
Publicly Published: May 29, 2024
Researcher: Wesley
Description: The PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the _html_tag attribute of multiple widgets in all versions up to, and including, 2.7.17 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This 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.
References: Wordfence Report

Vulnerability 3 Details:

Name: PowerPack Addons for Elementor (Free Widgets, Extensions and Templates) <= 2.7.19
Title: Authenticated (Contributor+) DOM-Based Stored Cross-Site Scripting
Type: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CVE: CVE-2024-5327
CVSS Score: 6.4
Publicly Published: May 29, 2024
Researcher: Wesley
Description: The PowerPack Addons for Elementor (Free Widgets, Extensions and Templates) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to DOM-Based Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘pp_animated_gradient_bg_color’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.7.19 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This 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.
References: Wordfence Report

Summary:

The PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress has vulnerabilities in versions up to and including 2.7.18, 2.7.17, and 2.7.19 that allow authenticated contributors to execute Stored Cross-Site Scripting. These vulnerabilities have been patched in versions 2.7.18, 2.7.19, and 2.7.20, respectively.

Detailed Overview:

The vulnerabilities, reported by researcher Wesley, stem from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in various elements of the plugin, including Twitter Tweet widget and _html_tag attribute. These flaws enable authenticated attackers with contributor-level access and above to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages, posing risks of data manipulation, unauthorized access, and potential compromise of website integrity.

Advice for Users:

Immediate Action: Update to patched versions 2.7.18, 2.7.19, or 2.7.20 immediately to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Check for Signs of Vulnerability: Monitor websites for unexpected behavior, such as unusual popups or redirects, which may indicate exploitation.
Alternate Plugins: Consider temporarily disabling affected widgets or exploring alternative plugins until the patch is applied.
Stay Updated: Regularly update all plugins to their latest versions to avoid vulnerabilities and ensure the security of WordPress installations.

Conclusion:

The prompt response from the plugin developers in patching these vulnerabilities underscores the importance of timely updates for maintaining website security. Users are advised to ensure that they are running patched versions 2.7.18, 2.7.19, or 2.7.20 to secure their WordPress installations against potential exploits.

References:

Detailed Report:

Introduction:

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, the security of your website stands as a paramount concern. The recent discovery of vulnerabilities in the PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin underscores the critical importance of staying vigilant and proactive in addressing security risks.

Potential Impacts:

The potential impacts of these vulnerabilities are significant, posing risks of data manipulation, unauthorized access, and compromise of website integrity. Attackers with contributor-level access and above could inject arbitrary web scripts into pages, potentially leading to severe consequences for website owners and visitors alike.

Remediation:

To remediate the vulnerability, users must promptly update to patched versions 2.7.18, 2.7.19, or 2.7.20. Additionally, regular monitoring of websites for unusual behavior, such as unexpected popups or redirects, can help detect signs of exploitation. Temporarily disabling affected widgets or exploring alternative plugins may offer interim solutions while awaiting patches.

Previous Vulnerabilities:

This is not the first instance of vulnerabilities in the PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin. Previous vulnerabilities have been identified since April 13, 2021, suggesting a recurring pattern that emphasizes the importance of staying on top of security concerns.

Conclusion:

Importance of Staying Updated:

For small business owners managing WordPress websites, prioritizing regular updates and proactive security measures is essential. While staying abreast of security vulnerabilities may seem daunting, investing in security plugins, automated update systems, or outsourcing security management to professionals can provide peace of mind and safeguard against potential exploits. By adopting a proactive approach to security, businesses can protect their online assets and maintain the trust of their audience in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Staying Secure

Staying on top of WordPress security can feel overwhelming for small business owners without dedicated IT staff. At Your WP Guy, we exist to shoulder that burden for you. Our WordPress experts can fully audit, secure, maintain and support your site - so you can focus on growing your business with peace of mind.

Don't tackle security risks alone. Let us help you assess any impact from this vulnerability, update your plugins, and implement ongoing maintenance to avoid future threats. We treat your website like it's our own - because we know how critical it is for reaching your customers.

Get in touch for a free consultation today on making WordPress security stress-free. Call 678-995-5169 or book a call here. Our knowledgeable team is ready to help you safeguard your online presence.