CVE-2026-9281 in Master Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2026
The Master Addons For Elementor – Widgets, Extensions, Theme Builder, Popup Builder & Template Kits plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'jtlma_custom_js' Page Setting (Custom JS Extension) in all versions up to, and including, 3.1.0 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. 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. The unfiltered_html capability check is only enforced during Elementor control registration (UI rendering) and not during the save process, enabling Author-level users to inject the jtlma_custom_js setting directly via a crafted POST request to admin-ajax.php?action=elementor_ajax, bypassing the UI-level restriction entirely.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2026
This vulnerability exists within the Master Addons For Elementor plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions through 3.1.0 where a stored cross-site scripting flaw has been identified in the Custom JS Extension functionality. The security weakness stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied JavaScript code within the jtlma_custom_js page setting. Attackers with author-level privileges or higher can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts through the Elementor page builder interface, which then gets stored in the WordPress database and executed whenever any user accesses the affected pages. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the WordPress content management system and potentially exposes all users to malicious code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific bypass mechanism that leverages the inconsistent enforcement of the unfiltered_html capability check. During the user interface rendering phase, the plugin properly enforces capability restrictions, preventing unauthorized script injection through the standard Elementor controls. However, during the data persistence phase, the validation occurs at a different level where the security checks are not properly applied to the save process. This creates a window of opportunity where authenticated attackers can directly submit malicious JavaScript code through a crafted POST request to the admin-ajax.php endpoint with the action parameter set to elementor_ajax. This bypass mechanism allows users with author-level permissions to circumvent the UI-level restrictions entirely and inject persistent malicious scripts that will execute in the context of any user who views the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating potential vectors for more sophisticated attacks that can compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or manipulate website content. Since the vulnerability affects the page setting functionality within Elementor, it can be exploited across multiple pages simultaneously, potentially affecting a large portion of the website's content. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that the malicious scripts persist in the database and execute automatically whenever users access the affected pages, making detection and remediation more challenging. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in environments where multiple authors or contributors have access to the WordPress admin, as it provides a persistent backdoor that can be exploited by attackers who gain access to these accounts. The attack surface is amplified by the fact that Elementor is a widely used page builder plugin, making this vulnerability potentially widespread across numerous WordPress installations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and the underlying architectural flaw in capability enforcement. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms that enforce strict sanitization of all user-supplied JavaScript content during the save process, regardless of UI-level restrictions. Administrators should ensure that only trusted users have author-level privileges or higher, and consider implementing additional security measures such as role-based access controls that limit who can modify page settings. The plugin developers must enforce consistent capability checks throughout the entire data processing pipeline, ensuring that security validations occur at both the presentation layer and the data persistence layer. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging of administrative activities, particularly around page builder modifications, to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management procedures should be implemented to ensure that all WordPress plugins and themes remain current with the latest security fixes, as this vulnerability was likely addressed in subsequent versions of the plugin. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-Site Scripting) and represents a specific implementation flaw in capability enforcement that maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachments) in the context of persistent malicious code execution through compromised content management systems.