CVE-2026-65482 in Element Kit Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
Contributor Cross Site Scripting (XSS) in LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor <= 1.6.2 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as Contributor Cross Site Scripting in LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor affects versions up to and including 1.6.2, representing a critical security flaw that allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. This issue specifically targets the contributor user role within WordPress environments where Elementor page builder is installed, creating a significant risk for website administrators who may not properly validate or sanitize user inputs. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, particularly when handling data submitted by users with contributor privileges.
The technical implementation of this XSS flaw occurs through improper sanitization of user-supplied content that gets rendered on web pages without adequate filtering or encoding. When contributors submit content through Elementor interfaces or related administrative forms, the plugin fails to properly escape special characters and HTML tags in the output rendering process. This creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the compromised content. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input before using it in web output, making it a classic cross site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited across various attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, and potentially gain complete control over affected websites. Contributors typically have limited capabilities within WordPress but can still create and modify content, making them attractive targets for exploitation. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that redirect users to phishing sites, steal administrative credentials, or manipulate website content to spread malware. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it leverages the execution of malicious javascript code in victim browsers through the compromised plugin interface.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to version 1.6.3 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Administrators must also implement additional security measures such as role-based access controls, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for suspicious user activities. The WordPress core team and plugin developers should enforce stricter validation protocols for all user inputs, particularly those processed through visual editors like Elementor. Organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution contexts and conduct regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications. Additionally, maintaining up-to-date security practices including regular plugin updates, secure coding standards, and comprehensive security monitoring systems will help prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities in the future.
The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create significant security risks, particularly when affecting commonly used plugins like Elementor that provide rich content editing capabilities to users with various permission levels. This case underscores the importance of proper security testing throughout the software development lifecycle and highlights the need for continuous monitoring of third-party components in web applications. The attack surface expands significantly when considering that many websites rely on contributor roles for content management, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments or multi-user WordPress installations where contributors may have access to sensitive data through the Elementor interface.