CVE-2026-24972 in Elated Listing Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/25/2026
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Elated-Themes Elated Listing eltd-listing allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Elated Listing: from n/a through <= 1.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw within the Elated-Themes Elated Listing plugin version 1.4 and earlier, where insufficient authorization checks allow unauthorized users to exploit functionality intended for privileged administrators. The missing authorization mechanism creates a path for attackers to bypass security controls and access restricted administrative features through improperly configured access control security levels. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-285 category of Improper Authorization, which specifically addresses situations where systems fail to properly verify that authenticated users have appropriate permissions for requested operations. The flaw enables attackers to perform actions that should be restricted to authorized personnel, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions within the plugin's codebase, where access control checks are either completely absent or improperly enforced during critical operations. Attackers can exploit this by crafting requests that target administrative endpoints or functionality that should require specific user roles or capabilities to access. The vulnerability affects all versions from the initial release through version 1.4, indicating that the authorization flaw has persisted across multiple iterations of the plugin without proper remediation. This suggests a fundamental design flaw in how access control is implemented rather than a temporary coding error that was later fixed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to manipulate listing data, modify plugin configurations, or potentially gain deeper system access through privilege escalation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify listing content, delete listings, or alter administrative settings that control how the plugin functions within the WordPress environment. The affected plugin's role in managing listings within WordPress creates additional attack surface, as listing data often contains sensitive information that could be compromised. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1484.001 for Privilege Escalation, as attackers can leverage misconfigured access controls to gain elevated privileges and maintain persistent access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw, alongside comprehensive security hardening measures. Organizations should implement proper access control verification mechanisms, including role-based access controls that enforce strict permission checks for all administrative functions. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts, while security audits should verify that all plugin components properly validate user permissions. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and the need for robust input validation and access control implementation. System administrators should consider implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls and privileged access management solutions to protect against exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability scanning and patch management processes should be strengthened to prevent similar authorization flaws from persisting in future versions.