CVE-2020-20634 in elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Elementor 2.9.5 and below WordPress plugin allows authenticated users to activate its safe mode feature. This can be exploited to disable all security plugins on the blog.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2020-20634 represents a critical security flaw in the Elementor WordPress plugin version 2.9.5 and earlier, where authenticated users can manipulate the plugin's safe mode feature to disable all active security plugins on the website. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's permission handling and administrative controls, creating a dangerous escalation path for malicious actors who have gained access to a user account with sufficient privileges. The Elementor plugin, widely used for website page building and design, operates with elevated privileges when managing website content and configurations, making this flaw particularly concerning for WordPress administrators who rely on security plugins for protection. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's administrative interface where safe mode activation is permitted without proper authorization checks, allowing users to effectively neutralize security measures that are crucial for protecting against various cyber threats. This flaw directly violates security principles by enabling privilege escalation through legitimate administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2020-20634 occurs when an authenticated user accesses the Elementor plugin's administrative settings and triggers the safe mode feature, which then systematically disables all active security plugins on the WordPress site. This functionality is intended to provide a troubleshooting mechanism for users experiencing conflicts or issues with Elementor, but the implementation lacks proper access controls and validation checks. The vulnerability stems from CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, where the plugin fails to properly validate user permissions before executing administrative functions. The flaw essentially allows an attacker with a valid user account to bypass normal security measures by leveraging the legitimate safe mode functionality to disable security protections. This creates a scenario where attackers can render the website vulnerable to various attacks including malware injection, unauthorized access, and data breaches by removing the security layers that protect against these threats.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond the immediate disabling of security plugins, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of WordPress installations that rely on Elementor for content management. When security plugins are disabled through this vulnerability, websites become susceptible to attacks that would normally be prevented by these protective measures, including firewall protection, malware scanning, intrusion detection systems, and other security monitoring tools. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege by allowing authenticated users to perform actions that should be restricted to administrators or system-level users only. This creates a dangerous environment where even low-privilege accounts can compromise the entire website's security infrastructure, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it accessible to users who might not have direct administrative access but still possess legitimate user accounts with which they can manipulate the plugin's functionality.
Security mitigations for CVE-2020-20634 must focus on immediate plugin updates to version 2.9.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the improper access control issue. Organizations should implement strict user privilege management and regularly audit user accounts to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to administrative functions within the Elementor plugin. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which addresses credential harvesting, as attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain deeper access by removing security protections. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and anomaly detection systems can help identify unauthorized activation of safe mode features that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and their configurations should be conducted to identify similar access control flaws, and administrators should consider implementing additional security layers such as two-factor authentication and role-based access controls to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to plugin administrative functions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, as the flaw demonstrates how a legitimate feature can be exploited when proper authorization checks are missing from the code implementation.