CVE-2026-108478 in Element Pack Elementor Addons Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/12/2026
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in BdThemes Element Pack Elementor Addons bdthemes-element-pack-lite allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Element Pack Elementor Addons: from n/a through 8.8.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2026
The identified security flaw represents a classic instance of Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, commonly known as Cross-Site Scripting or XSS. Specifically, this vulnerability manifests as a Stored XSS within the BdThemes Element Pack plugin for WordPress, affecting versions from n/a through 8.8.8. Unlike reflected XSS attacks where malicious scripts are executed via manipulated URLs, stored vulnerabilities persist on the target server. In this context, an attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code into input fields that are subsequently saved to a database or file system without adequate sanitization. When other users or administrators view the affected content, the browser executes the embedded script in their session context, leading to potential compromise of user accounts and sensitive data exposure.
From a technical perspective, the root cause lies in the insufficient validation and encoding of user-supplied input before it is rendered within HTML pages generated by the Elementor page builder framework. The plugin fails to properly neutralize special characters that have meaning in HTML or JavaScript contexts, such as angle brackets, quotes, and ampersands. This oversight allows an attacker to inject executable code directly into the content structure. Because the payload is stored server-side, it does not require complex social engineering tactics involving direct links; instead, simply posting malicious content through a legitimate interface triggers the vulnerability for any viewer with access rights.
The operational impact of this Stored XSS vulnerability is significant and multifaceted. Attackers can steal session cookies, which may allow them to hijack administrative sessions if they possess sufficient privileges within the WordPress environment. This could lead to full site takeover, defacement, or the installation of backdoors for persistent access. Furthermore, attackers can redirect users to phishing sites, inject malware into legitimate pages, or perform actions on behalf of victims without their consent. The persistence of the payload means that every user accessing the compromised page is at risk, amplifying the blast radius far beyond a single interaction.
In terms of industry standards and threat modeling, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'). It also maps to specific techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework for web applications, particularly T1059.007: JavaScript Execution via Stored Payloads and potentially T1189: Drive-by Client-side Code Injection if used in conjunction with other vectors. The persistence of the attack vector makes it a high-severity issue under most scoring systems due to its ability to affect multiple victims automatically upon content consumption.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term defensive coding practices. Administrators should immediately update the BdThemes Element Pack plugin to version 8.8.9 or later, where this input validation flaw has been addressed by developers implementing strict output encoding and context-aware sanitization. For environments unable to patch instantly, deploying a Web Application Firewall can help filter out malicious payloads containing script tags or event handlers before they reach the server storage layer. Additionally, enforcing Content Security Policy headers that restrict inline script execution can mitigate the impact of any successfully injected code by preventing its execution in the victim's browser context. Regular security audits and input validation checks during development are essential to prevent similar flaws from recurring in future releases.