CVE-2023-5381 in Elementor Addon Elements Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/16/2023
The Elementor Addon Elements plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via admin settings in versions up to, and including, 1.12.7 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level permissions and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5381 resides within the Elementor Addon Elements plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions up to and including 1.12.7. This represents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that exploits weaknesses in input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's administrative settings. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access with administrator-level permissions or higher, making it accessible to attackers who have already gained administrative control over a WordPress installation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the plugin's handling of user input within administrative settings. When administrators configure the plugin's settings, the input fields fail to properly sanitize or escape user-provided data before storing it in the database. This stored malicious content can then be executed whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected scripts, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users within the same installation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in multi-site WordPress installations where the malicious scripts can potentially affect multiple sites within the network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the compromised WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform various malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability specifically targets installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled, which means that even in more secure configurations, the attack surface remains viable when administrators attempt to modify plugin settings. This limitation makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited even in environments that have implemented additional security measures.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which classifies the issue as a Stored Cross-Site Scripting flaw, representing a well-established category of web application security vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence within web applications, as attackers can use stored XSS to maintain access to compromised systems. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of technique T1059.007 which involves command and scripting interpreter for executing malicious scripts, and T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content delivery.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-5381 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures and ensure that all user-provided data within administrative interfaces undergoes proper sanitization before storage. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution even if the vulnerability is exploited. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack.