CVE-2025-3863 in Post Carousel Slider for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/26/2025
The Post Carousel Slider for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to improper authorization due to a missing capability check on the process_wbelps_promo_form() function in all versions up to, and including, 1.6.0. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to trigger the plugin’s support‐form handler to send arbitrary emails to the site’s support address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2025
The Post Carousel Slider for Elementor plugin presents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This vulnerability stems from a fundamental missing capability check within the process_wbelps_promo_form() function, which operates across all versions up to and including 1.6.0. The flaw allows authenticated attackers who possess Subscriber-level privileges or higher to exploit the plugin's support form handler without proper authorization. This represents a significant bypass of intended access controls that should normally restrict such functionality to administrators or privileged users only. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's core functionality where it processes promotional form submissions, creating an unexpected attack vector for malicious actors who have already gained entry to a site with relatively low privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the plugin's support form handler, which lacks proper capability verification before executing its core functions. When an authenticated user with Subscriber access or higher submits data to the promotional form endpoint, the system fails to verify whether the user possesses sufficient privileges to perform this action. This absence of capability checks creates a direct pathway for unauthorized email sending through the plugin's support infrastructure. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the plugin level rather than the WordPress core, making it a specific implementation issue within the plugin's codebase rather than a broader system vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-863, which addresses incorrect authorization scenarios where a system fails to verify that an actor has sufficient privileges to perform a requested action, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized email sending, creating potential risks for both site administrators and end users. Attackers can leverage this flaw to send spam or phishing emails through the site's legitimate support infrastructure, potentially damaging the site's reputation and trustworthiness. The compromised plugin functionality could enable attackers to conduct social engineering campaigns by using the site's support address as a source for malicious communications. Additionally, this vulnerability may serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as it demonstrates that the site's access controls are insufficiently enforced. The ability to send arbitrary emails through a legitimate support form handler could also be exploited to bypass spam filters or gain credibility in phishing attempts, as the emails would appear to originate from the site's official support channel. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the site's reputation is critical to its operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to the latest version of the Post Carousel Slider for Elementor plugin where the missing capability check has been implemented. Site administrators should also conduct thorough security audits to identify any other plugins that may exhibit similar authorization flaws, as this vulnerability pattern is not uncommon in WordPress plugin development. Implementing additional security measures such as rate limiting on form submission endpoints, monitoring for unusual email sending patterns, and conducting regular capability checks across all plugin functions can help prevent exploitation of similar issues. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block unauthorized form submissions, particularly those originating from lower privilege accounts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and capability verification within plugin development, emphasizing the need for developers to follow secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project and the Center for Internet Security. Regular security assessments of third-party plugins should become standard practice for WordPress administrators to prevent exploitation of such authorization bypass vulnerabilities.