CVE-2024-23523 in Elementor Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2024
Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability in Elementor Pro.This issue affects Elementor Pro: from n/a through 3.19.2.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2024
The CVE-2024-23523 vulnerability represents a critical exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors within the Elementor Pro web development platform. This vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through 3.19.2, creating a substantial security risk for websites utilizing this popular page builder tool. The flaw allows malicious actors to gain access to sensitive data that should remain protected within the system's administrative interfaces.
This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure, specifically categorized as CWE-200 - "Information Exposure" within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The technical implementation flaw appears to stem from inadequate access controls or improper authentication mechanisms within the Elementor Pro plugin's data handling processes. The vulnerability likely manifests through insufficient validation of user permissions when accessing certain administrative endpoints or data retrieval functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates potential attack vectors for more sophisticated exploitation attempts. Unauthorized actors who can leverage this vulnerability may gain access to user credentials, site configuration details, content management information, and other sensitive administrative data. This exposure directly violates fundamental security principles and can lead to complete compromise of affected websites. The vulnerability's presence across multiple versions indicates a persistent flaw in the plugin's security architecture rather than a one-time implementation error.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the information gathering and credential access domains. The impact on affected organizations can be severe, potentially leading to data breaches, site defacement, unauthorized content modification, and loss of user trust. Websites relying on Elementor Pro for their content management and design capabilities face significant risk when this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Organizations should immediately update to the latest available version of Elementor Pro to mitigate this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, monitoring access logs for suspicious activities, and conducting regular security assessments can help reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for thorough security testing of third-party plugins in web development environments.