CVE-2024-50442 Overview
CVE-2024-50442 is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in the Royal Elementor Addons WordPress plugin developed by WP Royal. The flaw stems from improper restriction of XML external entity references [CWE-611] in the plugin's XML parsing logic. Attackers with high privileges on the target WordPress site can submit crafted XML payloads that reference external entities. Successful exploitation allows XML injection leading to potential file disclosure, server-side request forgery, and denial of service against the WordPress host. The vulnerability affects all Royal Elementor Addons versions from initial release through 1.3.980.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can exploit XML parsing over the network to read local files, trigger internal network requests, and disrupt availability of the WordPress site.
Affected Products
- Royal Elementor Addons plugin for WordPress (royal-elementor-addons)
- All versions up to and including 1.3.980
- WordPress installations running WP Royal's Royal Elementor Addons and Templates
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-28 - CVE-2024-50442 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-50442
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Royal Elementor Addons plugin's XML processing routines. The plugin parses XML input without disabling external entity resolution, satisfying the classic condition for an XXE attack [CWE-611]. An authenticated attacker submits an XML document that declares an external entity referencing local files, internal URLs, or recursive definitions. The XML parser resolves these entities during processing, embedding their contents in the parser's output or triggering outbound requests. The attack requires network access to the WordPress site and high-privilege authentication, but no user interaction. Impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability because file contents, internal service responses, and parser resource consumption can all be influenced by attacker-controlled entity definitions.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of secure XML parser configuration. The plugin instantiates an XML parser without disabling DOCTYPE declarations or external entity resolution. When XML input reaches the parser, entity expansion executes with the privileges of the WordPress PHP process. Modern hardening guidance requires disabling external entities and DTD loading in libraries such as libxml2, which was not applied here through Royal Elementor Addons version 1.3.980.
Attack Vector
An attacker authenticated to the WordPress site with elevated privileges submits crafted XML content to a plugin endpoint that accepts XML input, such as import or template functionality. The payload declares a SYSTEM entity that points to a local file path like file:///etc/passwd or an internal HTTP resource. The parser dereferences the entity during processing and exposes the retrieved content or performs the outbound request. Attackers can also chain XXE with parameter entities to exfiltrate data through DNS or HTTP callbacks to attacker-controlled infrastructure. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context. No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available in this dataset.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-50442
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected outbound HTTP or DNS requests originating from the WordPress web server to unknown external hosts
- Web server access logs containing XML payloads with <!DOCTYPE, <!ENTITY, or SYSTEM directives in POST bodies
- PHP error logs referencing libxml entity resolution failures or file-access errors on sensitive paths
- Access attempts from authenticated administrator or editor accounts to XML import endpoints outside normal usage patterns
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress plugin and site version metadata to identify Royal Elementor Addons installations at or below version 1.3.980
- Enable web application firewall rules that flag XML payloads containing external entity declarations
- Correlate authenticated administrative sessions with XML upload or import activity in WordPress audit logs
- Monitor for local file access patterns from the PHP process that deviate from baseline behavior
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WordPress, PHP, and web server logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation and retention
- Alert on repeated XML parsing errors or unexpected file://, http://, or ftp:// scheme references within request bodies
- Track outbound connections from the web tier and flag traffic to non-approved destinations
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-50442
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Royal Elementor Addons to a version later than 1.3.980 as published by WP Royal on the official plugin page
- Audit WordPress user accounts with administrator or editor roles and remove unnecessary privileges
- Review recent XML import activity and web server logs for signs of prior exploitation
- Restrict outbound network egress from the WordPress host to only required destinations
Patch Information
WP Royal addressed the XXE flaw in a release following Royal Elementor Addons 1.3.980. Site owners should apply the latest available plugin update from the WordPress plugin repository. Reference the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the fixed version and vendor advisory details.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the Royal Elementor Addons plugin until the patched version can be installed and verified
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that blocks requests containing <!DOCTYPE or <!ENTITY declarations targeting plugin endpoints
- Enforce least-privilege role assignments so only trusted administrators can access XML import functionality
- Configure PHP libxml_disable_entity_loader(true) or equivalent parser hardening at the platform level where feasible
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
