CVE-2026-65488 in Element Kit Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
Unauthenticated Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor <= 1.6.2 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor plugin, affecting versions up to and including 1.6.2. The issue stems from insufficient anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interfaces, allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute malicious requests on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's AJAX handlers and administrative endpoints that process user inputs and perform privileged operations.
The technical implementation of this CSRF flaw occurs through the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens in forms and API endpoints that modify plugin settings, manage content, or perform administrative functions. When an authenticated administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the attacker can leverage the browser's automatic credential submission to perform unauthorized actions within the vulnerable plugin's context. This occurs because the plugin does not validate the origin of requests or require unique tokens that tie each request to a specific user session, creating a fundamental gap in the authentication flow as defined by CWE-352.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can enable attackers to perform critical administrative functions such as modifying plugin configurations, deleting content, changing user permissions, or potentially escalating privileges within the WordPress environment. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain persistent access to the affected website, modify core functionality, or establish backdoors through unauthorized plugin modifications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication from the attacker's perspective and can be executed through social engineering techniques such as phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 1.6.3 or later where the CSRF protections have been properly implemented, disabling the vulnerable plugin if immediate updates are not possible, and monitoring for unauthorized administrative activities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, network-based intrusion detection systems, and regular security auditing of WordPress plugins and themes. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 related to phishing campaigns that could exploit this weakness, making it a significant concern for enterprise security postures.