CVE-2026-109884 in Website Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/06/2026
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Elementor Elementor Website Builder elementor allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Elementor Website Builder: from n/a through 4.3.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2026
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 Reflected XSS within the Elementor Website Builder plugin for WordPress. This type of attack occurs when an application receives data in an HTTP request and includes that unsafe data into its output without first validating or encoding it to ensure it cannot be interpreted as executable code by the browser. In the context of web development, this failure to sanitize user-supplied input allows malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability affects versions of Elementor Website Builder ranging from no specific lower bound through version 4.3.5, indicating a broad exposure window for sites utilizing these iterations of the software.
From a technical perspective, reflected XSS differs from stored XSS in that the malicious script is not permanently stored within the target application but is instead returned immediately by the web server as part of the response to an initial HTTP request. An attacker typically crafts a specially constructed URL containing the injected JavaScript payload and tricks a victim into clicking it or visiting the link via phishing techniques. When the vulnerable page processes this input, it reflects the malicious script back in the HTML output without proper encoding. Modern browsers execute this embedded code within the context of the website’s domain, granting the attacker significant capabilities relative to that site's security model. This execution environment allows the script to access cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive information stored locally by the browser for that specific origin.
The operational impact of such a vulnerability is severe due to its potential for widespread exploitation through social engineering. Once executed in the victim’s browser, the malicious code can perform actions on behalf of the user without their knowledge or consent. This includes stealing session cookies and authentication tokens, which could lead to complete account takeover if multi-factor authentication is not enforced or bypassed. Furthermore, attackers may use the compromised context to deface the website by altering its visual presentation, redirect users to malicious phishing sites designed to harvest credentials, or deploy further malware downloads under the guise of legitimate content from the trusted domain. The trust associated with a well-known plugin like Elementor amplifies the success rate of such attacks because victims are more likely to interact with links originating from familiar sources.
In terms of industry-standard classification frameworks, this vulnerability aligns directly with CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'). More specifically, it falls under the sub-category of Reflected Cross-Site Scripting where input is not validated before being included in web pages. Within the MITRE ATT&CK framework for enterprise security, this technique corresponds to T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, particularly when used for client-side script execution such as JavaScript or VBScript. It also relates to T1189: Drive-by Client Compilation if the payload leads to further exploitation chains involving browser vulnerabilities. Understanding these mappings helps security teams categorize the risk accurately within their threat intelligence platforms and prioritize remediation efforts based on established taxonomies of web application weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate patching needs and broader defensive postures. The primary and most effective solution is to upgrade Elementor Website Builder to a version later than 4.3.5, where the developers have presumably implemented proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Developers should ensure that all user-supplied data is strictly validated against expected formats and encoded using context-appropriate methods such as HTML entity encoding for display in web pages. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can significantly mitigate the impact of any remaining XSS vulnerabilities by restricting the sources from which scripts are allowed to load and execute. Web Application Firewalls may also provide a layer of defense by detecting and blocking requests containing known malicious script patterns before they reach the application logic. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on input handling practices are essential for maintaining long-term resilience against such injection-based attacks.