CVE-2024-2662: Unlimited Elements For Elementor RCE Flaw

CVE-2024-2662 Overview

CVE-2024-2662 is a command injection vulnerability in the Unlimited Elements For Elementor (Free Widgets, Addons, Templates) plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.5.102. The vulnerability stems from insufficient filtering of template attributes during the creation of HTML for custom widgets. Authenticated attackers with administrator-level access or above can execute arbitrary operating system commands on the underlying server. The issue is tracked under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command).

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants attackers arbitrary command execution on the WordPress host, enabling full server compromise, data theft, and lateral movement into connected infrastructure.

Affected Products

Unlimited Elements For Elementor (Free Widgets, Addons, Templates) plugin for WordPress
All plugin versions from initial release through 1.5.102
WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin with administrator accounts exposed to untrusted actors

Discovery Timeline

2024-05-14 - CVE-2024-2662 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-2662

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the plugin's template engine, specifically the file inc_php/unitecreator_template_engine.class.php. This engine processes template attributes when rendering HTML output for custom widgets. Insufficient input filtering allows attacker-supplied template attributes to reach an OS command execution context on the server.

Because the affected code path is invoked when custom widgets are built and rendered, an authenticated administrator can craft template inputs that inject shell metacharacters. The injected payload executes with the privileges of the PHP process running WordPress, typically the web server user.

The vulnerability requires administrator-level authentication, which limits the pool of viable attackers but does not eliminate risk. Compromised administrator credentials, insider threats, or privilege escalation from a lower-privileged flaw can chain into full remote code execution on the host.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing sanitization of template attributes before they are concatenated into strings that are passed to command execution functions. The plugin trusts values that originate from authenticated user input rather than escaping or validating them against a strict allow-list. See the WordPress Changeset Update for the exact code paths modified in the fix.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the WordPress admin interface and valid administrator credentials. The attacker submits a crafted template or widget configuration containing shell metacharacters within template attributes. When the plugin processes the widget, the injected characters break out of the intended argument context and execute arbitrary commands.

The Wordfence Vulnerability Report documents the exploitation flow and confirms the authenticated administrator prerequisite. No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been released at the time of this writing.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-2662

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by the PHP-FPM or web server user, such as sh, bash, curl, wget, or python, originating from WordPress request handling
Modifications to files within wp-content/plugins/unlimited-elements-for-elementor/ that do not correspond to a legitimate update
New or modified PHP files in the WordPress root, wp-content/uploads/, or plugin directories that may indicate a webshell dropped after command execution
Outbound network connections from the WordPress host to unfamiliar IP addresses shortly after administrator activity

Detection Strategies

Monitor WordPress access logs for POST requests to plugin AJAX endpoints or admin-ajax handlers that contain shell metacharacters such as backticks, $(), ;, |, or && in template-related parameters
Alert on process creation events where the parent process is the web server and the child is an interactive shell or common post-exploitation tool
Correlate administrator login events with subsequent widget or template modifications and unusual server-side process activity
Deploy file integrity monitoring on the plugin directory and the WordPress installation to detect unauthorized changes

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose PHP and WordPress audit logging to capture administrator actions that touch the Unlimited Elements template engine
Forward WordPress and web server telemetry to a centralized analytics platform to correlate authentication, plugin activity, and process execution
Review administrator account inventory regularly and investigate any accounts that were created or elevated without an authorized change record
Track outbound DNS and HTTP requests from the web host to detect command-and-control callbacks initiated by injected commands

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-2662

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Unlimited Elements For Elementor plugin to a version later than 1.5.102 on every WordPress site that runs the plugin
Audit all WordPress administrator accounts, remove unused accounts, and reset credentials for any account that cannot be verified
Enforce multi-factor authentication on all administrator accounts to reduce the risk of credential-based exploitation
Inspect the plugin directory and WordPress filesystem for unauthorized modifications or newly introduced PHP files

Patch Information

The vendor addressed the vulnerability in the plugin update referenced by the WordPress Changeset Update. The fix modifies inc_php/unitecreator_template_engine.class.php to filter template attributes before they are used in HTML generation, breaking the path to OS command execution. Administrators must upgrade to a release that contains this changeset.

Workarounds

Deactivate and remove the Unlimited Elements For Elementor plugin until the site can be updated to a patched version
Restrict access to the WordPress admin interface using IP allow-listing, a VPN, or a web application firewall rule that limits /wp-admin/ exposure
Apply the principle of least privilege by demoting non-essential administrator accounts to editor or lower roles
Deploy a web application firewall with rules that block shell metacharacters in plugin AJAX parameters as a compensating control

bash

# Configuration example: restrict WordPress admin access by IP using .htaccess
<Files wp-login.php>
    Require ip 203.0.113.0/24
</Files>

<Directory /var/www/html/wp-admin>
    Require ip 203.0.113.0/24
</Directory>