CVE-2024-49271 in Unlimited Elements for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2024
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in Unlimited Elements Unlimited Elements For Elementor (Free Widgets, Addons, Templates) unlimited-elements-for-elementor allows Command Injection.This issue affects Unlimited Elements For Elementor (Free Widgets, Addons, Templates): from n/a through <= 1.5.121.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-49271 represents a critical deserialization of untrusted data flaw within the Unlimited Elements For Elementor plugin, a popular free widgets, addons, and templates extension for the Elementor page builder. This vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through and including version 1.5.121, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors targeting WordPress websites that utilize this plugin. The flaw stems from the plugin's improper handling of serialized data structures, which can be manipulated by attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. The issue falls under the CWE-502 category, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data as a fundamental security weakness that can lead to remote code execution when exploited correctly.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of serialized data parameters that the plugin processes during its operation. Attackers can craft malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, trigger unintended command execution on the server hosting the WordPress site. This command injection vulnerability allows adversaries to execute arbitrary shell commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the plugin's legitimate deserialization functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted requests to the plugin's endpoints that handle user-provided data, where the serialized data is then deserialized without proper validation or sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-49271 extends beyond simple command execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation running the vulnerable plugin version, making it a widespread concern across numerous websites and organizations that rely on Elementor for their website building needs. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, and represents a critical threat in the context of web application security. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the web server has elevated privileges or where the compromised site serves as part of a larger infrastructure, as attackers can use the compromised system to pivot to other targets within the network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Unlimited Elements For Elementor plugin where available, as the vendor has likely released a patch addressing this specific flaw. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, input validation, and monitoring for suspicious deserialization patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper data validation and sanitization practices in web applications, particularly when handling user-provided data that may be serialized or encoded. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected plugin across their infrastructure and ensure that proper access controls and privilege separation are maintained to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.