CVE-2026-14817 Overview
CVE-2026-14817 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability [CWE-79] in the Element Pack Addons for Elementor WordPress plugin before version 8.7.13. The plugin fails to sanitize option values passed through certain data attributes before a bundled front-end library re-parses and renders them in the browser. Contributor-level authenticated users can inject arbitrary JavaScript that executes in the session of any visitor who views the affected content. The flaw affects sites that rely on contributor workflows, giving low-privileged authors a path to attack administrators and site visitors.
Critical Impact
Authenticated contributors can inject persistent JavaScript that executes in every visitor's browser session, enabling session theft, administrative account takeover, and content defacement.
Affected Products
- Element Pack Addons for Elementor WordPress plugin versions prior to 8.7.13
- WordPress sites permitting contributor-level publishing workflows
- Any Elementor-powered pages rendering data attributes processed by the plugin's bundled front-end library
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-02 - CVE-2026-14817 published to NVD
- 2026-08-04 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-14817
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in how Element Pack Addons for Elementor handles user-controlled option values inside HTML data attributes. The plugin accepts input from post authors and writes those values into rendered markup without applying context-appropriate output encoding. A bundled client-side JavaScript library then reads the attribute values and re-parses them as HTML or JavaScript expressions during page rendering.
This re-parsing step converts otherwise inert attribute content into executable script in the browser. Because the injected payload is stored in post content, every visitor who loads the affected page triggers execution. Attackers can hijack administrator sessions, exfiltrate cookies, perform actions against the WordPress REST API, or pivot to further compromise the site.
Exploitation requires contributor-level access or higher, and the target user must load the page containing the malicious widget. Sites with open registration or multi-author configurations face the highest exposure.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input sanitization and improper output encoding when the plugin serializes option values into data attributes. The client-side library expects trusted input and executes attribute values through JavaScript evaluation paths, so any attacker-controlled string reaches a script execution sink. This pattern maps to [CWE-79] Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation.
Attack Vector
An authenticated contributor edits a page or post using an Element Pack widget and supplies a crafted option value containing JavaScript. The plugin renders the payload inside a data attribute. When any visitor loads the page, the bundled front-end library re-parses the attribute and executes the injected script under the origin of the WordPress site. Refer to the WPScan Vulnerability Report for additional technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-14817
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, javascript: URIs, or event handler attributes inside data-* attributes on Elementor-rendered pages
- New or modified posts authored by contributor accounts that reference Element Pack widgets with unusual option payloads
- Outbound requests from visitor browsers to unfamiliar domains sourced from WordPress page loads
- Administrator sessions performing actions from unexpected IP addresses shortly after viewing contributor-authored content
Detection Strategies
- Scan wp_posts content for Element Pack shortcodes or widget markup containing HTML-encoded script fragments, onerror=, onload=, or javascript: strings inside data attributes
- Deploy a Content Security Policy (CSP) in report-only mode to surface inline script executions originating from plugin-rendered elements
- Review the plugin version in wp-content/plugins/bdthemes-element-pack/ and confirm it is 8.7.13 or later
Monitoring Recommendations
- Log and alert on contributor-role post submissions containing suspicious attribute payloads through a WordPress audit plugin or web application firewall
- Monitor administrator session activity for anomalous REST API calls following page previews of contributor drafts
- Track browser-side CSP violation reports to identify injection attempts before they succeed
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-14817
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Element Pack Addons for Elementor to version 8.7.13 or later on all WordPress installations
- Audit contributor and author accounts, disabling any that are inactive or unverified
- Review recent posts and pages authored by non-administrator users for injected payloads and revert affected content
- Rotate administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if compromise is suspected
Patch Information
The vendor addressed CVE-2026-14817 in Element Pack Addons for Elementor version 8.7.13. The fix applies proper sanitization to option values before they are serialized into data attributes consumed by the plugin's bundled front-end library. Refer to the WPScan Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Workarounds
- Restrict contributor and author role assignments until the plugin is patched
- Require administrator or editor review before publishing content that uses Element Pack widgets
- Deploy a web application firewall rule to block requests containing script payloads inside plugin-specific option parameters
- Enforce a strict CSP that disallows inline script execution on public-facing pages
# Update the plugin using WP-CLI
wp plugin update bdthemes-element-pack --version=8.7.13
wp plugin list --name=bdthemes-element-pack --fields=name,status,version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
