CVE-2025-68531 in ModelTheme Addons for WPBakery and Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/20/2026
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in modeltheme ModelTheme Addons for WPBakery and Elementor modeltheme-addons-for-wpbakery allows Object Injection.This issue affects ModelTheme Addons for WPBakery and Elementor: from n/a through < 1.5.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical deserialization flaw in the ModelTheme Addons for WPBakery and Elementor plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.5.6. The issue stems from the plugin's improper handling of untrusted data during the deserialization process, creating an object injection vector that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-502 category, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of security flaw. When the plugin processes user-supplied data through unserialize() functions or similar deserialization mechanisms without adequate input validation or sanitization, it creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious objects that can be executed within the plugin's context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can manipulate input parameters that are subsequently processed through insecure deserialization routines. This typically happens when the plugin accepts serialized data from user inputs, form submissions, or API endpoints without proper validation. The deserialization process allows attackers to craft malicious serialized objects that, when unserialized, execute arbitrary code on the target system. This can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of backdoors. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects both WPBakery and Elementor platforms, increasing the attack surface and potential exploitation vectors. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious commands and scripts within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete compromise of WordPress installations that utilize the affected plugin. Attackers can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges, modify or delete content, steal sensitive data, and establish persistent access to the compromised systems. The vulnerability affects not just individual sites but can be weaponized at scale across multiple WordPress installations, particularly those running outdated versions of the ModelTheme Addons plugin. Organizations using these platforms face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's persistence makes it particularly dangerous as it can remain undetected for extended periods while maintaining unauthorized access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including updating to version 1.5.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the deserialization flaw. Security administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures to prevent untrusted data from reaching deserialization routines. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting plugin permissions and limiting the capabilities of deserialization functions. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins or components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms to provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping all software components updated and the necessity of implementing robust security practices throughout the application lifecycle to prevent such dangerous flaws from being exploited in the wild.