CVE-2023-6984 in PowerPack Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/03/2024
The PowerPack Addons for Elementor (Free Widgets, Extensions and Templates) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 2.7.13. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation in the powerpack-lite-for-elementor/classes/class-pp-admin-settings.php file. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to modify and reset plugin settings via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2025
The PowerPack Addons for Elementor plugin represents a popular extension for WordPress websites that enhances the functionality of the Elementor page builder with additional widgets and templates. This plugin has been widely adopted across the WordPress ecosystem, making its security vulnerabilities particularly concerning for website administrators and security professionals. The vulnerability identified in CVE-2023-6984 affects all versions up to and including 2.7.13, which means a substantial portion of users remain exposed to potential exploitation. The plugin's widespread use amplifies the impact of this CSRF vulnerability, as compromised sites could lead to widespread configuration changes and potential security breaches across multiple WordPress installations.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate nonce validation within the powerpack-lite-for-elementor/classes/class-pp-admin-settings.php file, which is a critical security mechanism designed to prevent unauthorized administrative actions. Nonces serve as time-sensitive tokens that verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrative interfaces. When these validation checks are missing or improperly implemented, attackers can forge requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators. This particular vulnerability creates a pathway where unauthenticated attackers can manipulate plugin configurations without requiring valid administrative credentials, fundamentally undermining the security model of WordPress administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of this CSRF vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it allows attackers to reset plugin settings and potentially alter core functionality that administrators rely upon for their website operations. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to disable security features, modify plugin behavior, or redirect users to malicious content through manipulated settings. The attack vector requires social engineering to trick administrators into clicking malicious links, but once successful, the consequences can be severe and persistent. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the administrative level, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access patterns or create backdoors through configuration modifications.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation and authentication checks can compromise system integrity. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it requires legitimate administrative credentials to be compromised through social engineering techniques. The attack chain typically begins with an attacker crafting a malicious link that, when clicked by an administrator, executes unauthorized administrative actions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version of the plugin, implementing additional security measures such as role-based access controls, and conducting security awareness training for administrators to recognize phishing attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of proper security implementation in WordPress plugins, particularly those with administrative capabilities. Plugin developers must ensure comprehensive nonce validation across all administrative interfaces and maintain regular security updates to protect users from emerging threats. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity for website administrators to maintain current security practices, including regular plugin updates, monitoring for suspicious administrative activities, and implementing security hardening measures such as two-factor authentication and restricted administrative access. Organizations should conduct regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and ensure that all administrative interfaces properly validate user intentions and request authenticity.