CVE-2023-7044 in Essential Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/04/2024
The Essential Addons for Elementor – Best Elementor Templates, Widgets, Kits & WooCommerce Builders plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via custom ID in all versions up to, and including, 5.9.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with contributor access and higher to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The Essential Addons for Elementor plugin represents one of the most widely used WordPress extensions for enhancing website functionality through various templates, widgets, and builders. This particular vulnerability affects versions up to and including 5.9.2, creating a significant security risk for WordPress sites that rely on this plugin for their frontend content management. The flaw exists within the plugin's handling of custom identifiers, which are commonly used to create unique page elements or sections. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user input when processing custom ID parameters, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that can be exploited by authenticated users with contributor-level privileges or higher. This represents a critical weakness in the plugin's security architecture, as it allows attackers to establish malicious code execution points that persist across multiple user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's core codebase. When users with contributor access or higher create or modify content elements within the Elementor editor, they can inject malicious JavaScript code into the custom ID field. The plugin fails to properly escape or validate this input before storing it in the database, allowing the malicious payload to remain dormant until it is later rendered on a webpage. This stored XSS vulnerability operates through the standard web browser execution model where the injected script executes whenever any user accesses a page containing the malicious ID parameter. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it accessible to users who typically have limited administrative capabilities within WordPress environments. The attack vector leverages the Elementor editor's integration with WordPress's content management system, where the custom ID field becomes a persistent storage point for attacker-controlled code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates persistent attack surfaces that can be leveraged for various malicious activities. Once successfully exploited, authenticated attackers can establish persistent backdoors, steal user session cookies, redirect visitors to malicious websites, or even escalate their privileges within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability's persistence means that the malicious code remains active even after the initial attack, continuously affecting any user who accesses affected pages. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution. The vulnerability also represents a weakness in the principle of least privilege, as it allows users with relatively low-level permissions to execute code that could compromise entire websites. The attack surface includes not just the direct users of the plugin but potentially all website visitors who encounter the malicious content, making this a widespread concern for WordPress site administrators.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from WordPress site administrators, including updating to the patched version of the Essential Addons for Elementor plugin as soon as possible. The vulnerability should be addressed through a comprehensive security audit of all WordPress installations using this plugin, with particular attention to user access controls and privilege management. Site administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious activity within the Elementor editor and custom ID fields, while also considering the implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output escaping practices, which are fundamental requirements of CWE-79 for cross-site scripting prevention. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls that limit the ability of low-privilege users to inject code into website elements, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches and the importance of conducting thorough security reviews of all third-party WordPress plugins before deployment in production environments.