Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This vulnerability is a cross-site scripting issue in the WordPress Visual Composer Website Builder plugin through version 45.8.0. A logged-in attacker could potentially cause script to run in another user’s browser if user interaction occurs. That can support content tampering, session risk, or targeted admin abuse, but the sources do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Handle this as a moderate-priority WordPress application risk. It is not described as actively exploited, but affected public sites with multiple editors or weak account controls should be remediated promptly because XSS can undermine user trust and administrative workflows.
Technical view
CVE-2024-35653 is CWE-79 improper input neutralization during web page generation in Visual Composer Website Builder. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5 with network access, low attack complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required, and changed scope. Public data identifies affected versions through 45.8.0 but does not include exploit details.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running the Visual Composer Website Builder plugin at version 45.8.0 or earlier. Sites without this plugin, or running unaffected versions, are not indicated as exposed by the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. No cited source states active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires a low-privileged account and victim interaction, reducing broad internet-scale risk but still mattering for multi-user WordPress environments.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to CVE and Patchstack database metadata. The bundle does not provide vulnerable parameters, proof-of-concept details, or a named fixed version. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the CVSS conditions: network attack, low privileges, user interaction, and changed scope.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites using Visual Composer Website Builder.
- Flag plugin versions at or below 45.8.0 as affected.
- Check Visual Composer or Patchstack guidance for the fixed release.
- Upgrade affected sites when vendor guidance confirms a safe version.
- Restrict builder access to trusted users until remediation is complete.
- Monitor for unexpected page content or script changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm the installed plugin package or slug is visualcomposer.
- Record the installed plugin version for each WordPress site.
- Treat version 45.8.0 or earlier as vulnerable.
- Review user roles with builder or content-editing privileges.
- Check security monitoring for suspicious content edits.
- Verify remediation against vendor or Patchstack advisory details.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-35653 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L2.33.7PatchstackVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/visualcomposer/vulnerability/wordpress-visual-composer-website-builder-landing-page-builder-custom-theme-builder-maintenance-mode-coming-soon-pages-plugin-45-8-0-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cveCVE reference, Patchstack · vdb-entry
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/visualcomposer/wordpress-visual-composer-website-builder-landing-page-builder-custom-theme-builder-maintenance-mode-coming-soon-pages-plugin-45-8-0-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cveCVE reference, CVE · vdb-entry, x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.