CVE-2023-2189 in Elementor Addons, Widgets and Enhancements Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2023
The Elementor Addons, Widgets and Enhancements – Stax plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the toggle_widget function in versions up to, and including, 1.4.3. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level permissions and above, to enable or disable Elementor widgets.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2189 affects the Stax plugin for WordPress, which is designed to enhance Elementor functionality with additional addons, widgets, and improvements. This particular flaw resides within the toggle_widget function that controls the enablement or disablement of Elementor widgets through the plugin's administrative interface. The vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the security model of WordPress sites relying on this plugin for their page building capabilities. Attackers exploiting this weakness can manipulate widget states without proper authorization, potentially leading to site compromise or data manipulation through altered frontend displays.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper capability validation within the toggle_widget function. Specifically, the plugin fails to verify whether the authenticated user possesses sufficient privileges before allowing widget state modifications. This missing capability check creates a path for authenticated attackers who hold subscriber-level permissions or higher to execute unauthorized widget toggling operations. The flaw exists in versions up to and including 1.4.3, indicating that the development team did not implement proper access controls during the function's implementation. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization validation that aligns with CWE-863, which addresses "Insufficient Authorization" vulnerabilities where the system fails to properly verify that an actor is authorized to perform a requested operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple widget management and could enable attackers to manipulate site behavior in ways that might facilitate more serious attacks. An attacker with subscriber-level access could potentially disable critical widgets that provide security features or functionality, or alternatively enable malicious widgets that could be used for data exfiltration or site defacement. This vulnerability particularly concerns sites using Elementor as their primary page builder, as it directly impacts the integrity of the page construction process and could be leveraged to create persistent backdoors or to hide malicious activities within the site's frontend presentation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in multi-user environments where different permission levels exist, as it allows attackers to escalate their influence through subtle but effective modifications to site functionality.
The security implications of CVE-2023-2189 align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain greater control over site functionality without requiring elevated privileges. Organizations using the Stax plugin should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the latest plugin version where the capability check has been properly implemented. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions and consider implementing additional monitoring for widget state changes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in WordPress plugins and highlights the need for regular security audits of third-party components. Security teams should also consider implementing automated scanning tools that can detect such missing capability checks in their plugin ecosystems, as this type of vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. The recommended remediation involves ensuring that all administrative functions in WordPress plugins properly validate user capabilities before executing any operations that could affect site functionality or security posture.