CVE-2026-65503 in Ultimate Store Kit Elementor Addons Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
Contributor Cross Site Scripting (XSS) in Ultimate Store Kit Elementor Addons <= 3.0.5 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
The vulnerability involves a contributor-level cross site scripting flaw in the Ultimate Store Kit Elementor Addons plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 3.0.5. This security weakness allows authenticated users with contributor roles to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's administrative interface, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, specifically in how user-provided data is handled during form submissions and content rendering processes.
The technical exploitation occurs when a contributor submits crafted malicious content through various plugin interfaces that do not properly sanitize or escape user inputs before rendering them in administrative contexts. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which represents one of the most common web application security flaws. The flaw enables attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it lowers the attack surface for malicious actors who may already have contributor-level access to a WordPress site. Contributors typically have limited capabilities but can create and edit posts, pages, and media files within their assigned areas. However, when combined with this XSS vulnerability, an attacker can leverage their existing permissions to inject persistent scripts that execute in the context of administrators or other high-privilege users who view the compromised content. This scenario creates a potential attack vector for privilege escalation and data exfiltration.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense against this vulnerability. Immediate remediation involves updating to version 3.0.6 or later where the XSS flaw has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output escaping procedures. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions and consider implementing role-based access controls that limit contributor capabilities to prevent potential exploitation of such vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through web application vulnerabilities, specifically under T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1548.003 - Sudo and Sudo Caching, highlighting the importance of proper access controls and input validation in preventing such attacks.
Mitigation strategies should include regular security audits of WordPress plugins, implementation of web application firewalls to detect suspicious script patterns, and comprehensive user access reviews. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies that restrict script execution within administrative interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation across all user-facing interfaces in web applications, particularly those handling data from authenticated users with varying permission levels. Regular security assessments and staying current with plugin updates remain essential practices for maintaining WordPress site security and preventing exploitation of such contributor-level vulnerabilities.