CVE-2026-115949 in Better Post & Filter Widgets Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in WP Smart Widgets Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor better-post-filter-widgets-for-elementor allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor: from n/a through 1.9.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability identified in the WP Smart Widgets plugin, specifically within its Better Post and Filter Widgets component for Elementor, represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms that allows unauthorized users to perform actions or access data intended only for authenticated administrators or specific user roles. This flaw stems from an incorrect configuration of security levels where the application fails to properly verify whether the requesting entity possesses the necessary privileges before executing sensitive operations. In web applications built with WordPress and Elementor, such widgets often handle dynamic content retrieval and filtering based on user input; however, when authorization checks are missing or improperly implemented, these inputs can be manipulated by attackers who do not have legitimate access rights to modify site settings, view restricted posts, or execute administrative functions remotely.
From a technical perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control, and is closely related to CWE-639 regarding Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key if the vulnerability involves manipulating identifiers to bypass checks. The root cause lies in the server-side logic of the plugin where API endpoints or AJAX handlers do not adequately validate the current user's capabilities against WordPress role-based access control standards. Consequently, an attacker can craft specific HTTP requests that exploit these gaps, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require complex exploitation techniques; rather, it relies on the fundamental absence of permission verification in critical code paths, making it easily discoverable and exploitable by automated tools or manual testers alike.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage to include potential full site compromise if combined with other weaknesses such as cross-site scripting or SQL injection within the same plugin ecosystem. Attackers can leverage this misconfiguration to escalate privileges, potentially gaining administrative access without valid credentials. This undermines the integrity and confidentiality of the WordPress installation, allowing malicious actors to deface websites, inject malware, steal sensitive user data, or use the compromised server for further attacks against other systems on the network. For organizations relying on these plugins for content management and presentation, such a breach can result in significant reputational damage, regulatory penalties under standards like GDPR if personal data is exposed, and substantial costs associated with incident response and remediation efforts.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action must be taken to update the Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor plugin to version 1.9.2 or later, where these authorization checks have been corrected by the developers. Until an upgrade is possible, administrators should consider disabling the affected widget features if they are not actively used and restrict access to the WordPress admin area using strong authentication methods such as two-factor authentication. Additionally, implementing a Web Application Firewall can help detect and block suspicious requests that attempt to exploit missing authorization checks by monitoring for anomalous patterns in API calls or AJAX requests originating from unauthenticated users. Regular security audits and penetration testing should also be conducted to identify similar access control flaws across the entire application stack, ensuring compliance with industry best practices outlined in frameworks like OWASP Top 10, specifically addressing Broken Access Control as a primary threat vector.