CVE-2024-10693 in SKT Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
The SKT Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 3.3 via the Unfold widget due to insufficient restrictions on which posts can be included. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to extract data from private or draft posts created by Elementor that they should not have access to.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-10693 affects the SKT Addons for Elementor plugin, a popular WordPress extension that enhances the functionality of the Elementor page builder. This security flaw exists within the Unfold widget component of the plugin and represents a critical information disclosure issue that impacts all versions up to and including 3.3. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls that fail to properly validate user permissions when retrieving post data, creating a significant security gap in the WordPress ecosystem. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users who possess Contributor-level privileges or higher, making it exploitable by individuals who have legitimate access to the WordPress administrative interface but should not be able to view restricted content.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the Unfold widget implementation. When authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher attempt to use the widget functionality, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions to access specific posts. This weakness allows attackers to bypass normal WordPress content access controls and retrieve data from private or draft posts that were created using Elementor. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor through which unauthorized information exposure occurs, as the system does not adequately enforce the principle of least privilege for content access. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and represents a clear violation of the security principle that users should only access data for which they have explicit authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as it provides attackers with access to sensitive information that may include unpublished content, internal communications, or proprietary data that should remain confidential. Contributors and higher-level users typically have the ability to create and edit content, but they should not be able to view private posts created by other users or draft content that has not yet been published. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of WordPress, where content access is controlled based on user roles and permissions. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gather intelligence about upcoming content, access confidential business information, or discover internal strategies that were intended to remain private until publication. The impact is particularly severe in environments where WordPress serves as a corporate or organizational content management system, as it could lead to competitive disadvantage or regulatory compliance issues.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-10693 should prioritize immediate action through plugin updates to the latest available version that contains the necessary security patches. Administrators should also implement additional access control measures including regular security audits of user roles and permissions, monitoring of content access logs, and enforcement of the principle of least privilege for all user accounts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in WordPress plugins, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security framework. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual content access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments of all installed WordPress plugins are essential to identify similar access control weaknesses that could compromise system security. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing website functionality while maintaining the integrity of content access controls.