CVE-2024-2085
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject malicious scripts into web pages using the HT Mega plugin's widgets. The scripts execute whenever users visit the compromised pages, enabling session hijacking, defacement, or malware distribution. All WordPress sites using HT Mega plugin versions up to 2.4.6 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- HT Mega - Absolute Addons For Elementor WordPress Plugin
📦 What is this software?
Ht Mega by Hasthemes
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, install backdoors, or completely compromise the WordPress site and potentially the underlying server.
Likely Case
Site defacement, cookie/session theft leading to account takeover, or injection of cryptocurrency miners/adware into visitor browsers.
If Mitigated
Limited to content manipulation within the affected widgets if proper user role management and content review processes are in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is straightforward once an attacker has contributor-level credentials.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.4.7 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3048999/ht-mega-for-elementor/trunk/includes/widgets/htmega_accordion.php
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'HT Mega - Absolute Addons For Elementor'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download version 2.4.7+ from WordPress repository and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Temporary Plugin Deactivation
allDisable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate ht-mega-for-elementor
User Role Restriction
allTemporarily restrict contributor-level users from editing posts/pages
Use WordPress role management plugins or functions to modify capabilities
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict content review workflow for all contributor submissions
- Install web application firewall with XSS protection rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin > Plugins > Installed Plugins for HT Mega version. If version is 2.4.6 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get ht-mega-for-elementor --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify plugin version shows 2.4.7 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual post/page edits by contributor users
- Script tags containing 'size' attribute in widget content
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected JavaScript execution from widget content
- External script loads from widget parameters
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND ("htmega" OR "size attribute") AND ("script" OR "onclick" OR "javascript:")🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3048999/ht-mega-for-elementor/trunk/includes/widgets/htmega_accordion.php
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/0f9c5bed-a399-43e2-be40-d669e90d3736?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3048999/ht-mega-for-elementor/trunk/includes/widgets/htmega_accordion.php
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/0f9c5bed-a399-43e2-be40-d669e90d3736?source=cve
