Summary Points
- An unauthenticated attacker can exploit a CSRF vulnerability in Elementor versions 4.3.0 and 4.3.1 to create rogue administrator accounts on over 10 million WordPress sites.
- The attack can be executed through a simple link embedded in emails, chat messages, or comments, without needing JavaScript or form submissions.
- The vulnerability allows full site control by bypassing CSRF protections across all REST API routes, including core WordPress and plugin endpoints.
Threat Overview, Attack Techniques, and Targets
The threat involves a serious security flaw in the Elementor Website Builder WordPress plugin. This flaw is a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability. It affects only versions 4.3.0 and 4.3.1 of the plugin. Over 10 million sites use this plugin, with more than 2 million sites running the affected versions. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability without needing to be logged in or have special technical skills. The attacker simply needs the target to click a crafted link. This link can be embedded in emails, chat messages, or comments. When a user who is logged in clicks the link, the attacker can make the site perform actions as if they are the administrator. They can create new admin accounts and take full control of the site. The attack does not require JavaScript or form submissions, making it easier to carry out.
Impact, Security Implications, and Remediation Guidance
The main impact of this flaw is that an attacker can gain administrative control of a WordPress site using Elementor. They can create rogue accounts and manipulate the site remotely. This poses a serious risk to the security and integrity of the affected website. The vulnerability exists because the plugin’s Editor Events module skips CSRF protections under certain conditions. It applies to all REST API requests, including those from WordPress core and other plugins. To fix this problem, Elementor released version 4.3.2. Users of the plugin should update to this version as soon as possible. If you have sites running older versions, you should seek security guidance from the vendor or a trusted security authority for further steps.
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