CVE-2025-53230: Page Manager for Elementor Auth Bypass

CVE-2025-53230 Overview

CVE-2025-53230 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting the honzat Page Manager for Elementor WordPress plugin. The flaw impacts all versions up to and including 2.0.5. The plugin fails to enforce proper access control checks, allowing authenticated users with low privileges to perform actions restricted to higher-privileged roles.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with minimal privileges can exploit incorrectly configured access control to compromise plugin functionality, modify managed pages, and disrupt site availability on affected WordPress installations.

Affected Products

honzat Page Manager for Elementor plugin versions through 2.0.5
WordPress sites using Page Manager for Elementor with Elementor page builder
All WordPress deployments running the vulnerable plugin version

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-28 - CVE-2025-53230 published to NVD
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-53230

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper access control enforcement within the Page Manager for Elementor plugin. The plugin exposes functionality through endpoints that do not adequately verify the capabilities of the requesting user. An attacker authenticated as a low-privileged user, such as a Subscriber, can invoke restricted actions by sending crafted requests directly to the vulnerable handlers.

This class of flaw, categorized under CWE-862, occurs when an application performs sensitive operations without verifying that the user is authorized. The attack requires network access and low privileges but no user interaction. Successful exploitation produces limited confidentiality and integrity loss alongside a higher impact to availability.

Root Cause

The plugin omits current_user_can() capability checks or equivalent authorization logic on action handlers that should be restricted to administrators or editors. Nonces, when present, validate request origin but do not verify user privilege level. The combination leaves privileged plugin operations reachable by any authenticated session.

Attack Vector

An attacker registers or compromises a low-privileged WordPress account on a site running Page Manager for Elementor ≤ 2.0.5. The attacker then issues authenticated HTTP requests to the plugin's exposed AJAX or admin-post endpoints. Because the plugin does not validate role or capability, the requested action executes with the privileges of the underlying handler. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-53230

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected modifications to pages, templates, or plugin settings managed by Page Manager for Elementor
WordPress audit log entries showing privileged plugin actions initiated by Subscriber or Contributor accounts
Surge in authenticated POST requests to admin-ajax.php or admin-post.php referencing the plugin's action names
New or modified Elementor pages created outside normal administrator workflows

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for authenticated requests to plugin endpoints originating from non-administrator user IDs
Compare current plugin version against 2.0.5 and earlier across all managed WordPress sites
Review WordPress user role assignments and recently registered accounts for anomalies
Correlate plugin action invocations with the role of the calling user using audit logging plugins

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress activity logging to capture all plugin actions with user role context
Forward WordPress logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation across sites and tenants
Alert on AJAX requests to plugin actions when the source user lacks Editor or Administrator role
Track plugin inventory and version data continuously to identify vulnerable installations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-53230

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress sites running Page Manager for Elementor and verify the installed version
Disable the plugin on any site running version 2.0.5 or earlier until a patched release is available
Audit user accounts and remove unused Subscriber, Contributor, or self-registered accounts
Restrict WordPress user registration if it is not required for site operation

Patch Information

As of the latest NVD update, the advisory indicates the issue affects versions through 2.0.5 with no fixed version listed. Monitor the Patchstack advisory and the plugin's WordPress.org page for an official patched release and apply it immediately upon availability.

Workarounds

Deactivate and uninstall Page Manager for Elementor until a fixed version is published
Apply a web application firewall (WAF) rule blocking requests to the plugin's vulnerable action handlers from non-administrator sessions
Set users_can_register to false in WordPress general settings to limit attacker access
Enforce strong authentication and least-privilege role assignments across all WordPress accounts

bash

# Disable open user registration and remove the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp option update users_can_register 0
wp plugin deactivate page-manager-for-elementor
wp plugin uninstall page-manager-for-elementor