CVE-2026-66574 in Element Pack Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2026
Contributor Cross Site Scripting (XSS) in Element Pack Elementor Addons <= 8.8.3 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as a Contributor Cross-Site Scripting issue within Element Pack for Elementor, specifically affecting versions up to and including 8.8.3, represents a significant security flaw rooted in insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms. This plugin is widely utilized by WordPress site administrators to extend the functionality of the popular page builder framework known as Elementor. The core technical deficiency lies in how the application processes data submitted by users holding lower-level privileges, specifically those assigned the Contributor role within the WordPress ecosystem. In a standard WordPress environment, Contributors are permitted to write and manage their own posts but lack the ability to publish them directly without editorial approval. This vulnerability exploits the assumption that such restricted roles cannot execute malicious scripts or manipulate client-side code in ways that affect other users or administrators.
From a technical perspective, the flaw allows an authenticated attacker with Contributor-level access to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users. The injection typically occurs through fields intended for legitimate content entry, where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it on the front end. Because the script is executed within the context of a trusted domain belonging to the WordPress site, the injected payload gains access to sensitive cookies, session tokens, and potentially other confidential data stored in the browser's local storage or accessed via Document Object Model interactions. This bypasses standard security boundaries because the attack originates from an authenticated user rather than an external unauthenticated actor, making it more difficult for basic web application firewalls to detect without deep packet inspection capabilities focused on specific plugin behaviors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, particularly in multi-author environments or community-driven websites where multiple users contribute content. An attacker leveraging this flaw can perform session hijacking by stealing administrator cookies if the victim views a compromised page while logged into an administrative account. This could lead to full site compromise, allowing the attacker to deface the website, install further malware, steal sensitive database information, or redirect visitors to phishing sites. Furthermore, the attack vector supports persistent attacks where malicious scripts are stored in the database and executed every time a user loads the affected page, amplifying the potential damage across numerous sessions without requiring repeated exploitation attempts by the attacker.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation as Cross-site Scripting. It also maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically sub-technique 007 for JavaScript execution, and potentially T1078 if the attacker uses valid credentials obtained through social engineering or other means to gain initial Contributor access. The exploitation relies on the principle of insufficient privilege separation in input handling logic, where the application does not adequately distinguish between safe content and executable script code based on user role permissions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate updates to the latest version of Element Pack for Elementor released after 8.8.3, as developers typically address such issues by implementing stricter sanitization functions like wp_kses_post or esc_js before outputting data. Administrators should also enforce strict least-privilege principles, ensuring that users who do not require content creation capabilities are assigned lower roles with no input fields exposed to the public interface. Additionally, deploying a Web Application Firewall configured to detect and block common XSS payloads can provide an additional layer of defense. Regular security audits focusing on role-based access control configurations and continuous monitoring for anomalous script injections in user-generated content areas are recommended practices to maintain robust security posture against such client-side attacks.