CVE-2026-6459 in Essential Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2026
The Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the Event Calendar widget in all versions up to, and including, 6.6.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on event titles sourced from The Events Calendar. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Author-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2026
The Essential Addons for Elementor plugin presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability within its Event Calendar widget functionality, affecting all versions through 6.6.2. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms when processing event titles originating from The Events Calendar plugin. The flaw specifically targets the data handling process where user-provided content flows from the events management system through to the frontend display without proper security validation. Attackers exploiting this weakness can inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever users access affected pages, creating a persistent threat vector that undermines the security integrity of WordPress installations using this plugin.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79: Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a stored XSS variant where malicious code is permanently stored on the server and executed during subsequent page requests. This represents a significant operational risk since the vulnerability requires only Author-level privileges or higher to exploit, making it accessible to users who should normally have restricted capabilities within WordPress environments. The attack surface expands when considering that many WordPress sites allow authors to create and modify content, creating potential entry points for attackers who may escalate their access through this vector.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of content, and redirection to malicious websites. The stored nature of the XSS means that the injected scripts persist indefinitely until manually removed by administrators, potentially affecting all users who access pages containing the malicious content. This vulnerability particularly undermines the trust model of WordPress environments where content creators are expected to operate within defined security boundaries.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to versions beyond 6.6.2 where the sanitization issues have been addressed. Administrators must also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at multiple layers, output escaping for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of plugin installations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper content sanitization in WordPress environments and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002: Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism, where attackers leverage legitimate user privileges to escalate their malicious capabilities within the system. Regular monitoring of plugin repositories for security updates and implementation of web application firewalls can provide additional protective layers against similar vulnerabilities in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.