CVE-2026-1620: Elementor Livemesh Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2026-1620 Overview

CVE-2026-1620 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting the Livemesh Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 9.0. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of the template name parameter in the lae_get_template_part() function, which employs an inadequate str_replace() approach that attackers can bypass using recursive directory traversal patterns.

This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or above to include and execute arbitrary files on the server. Successful exploitation requires the attacker to either trick an administrator into performing an action or have Elementor installed, enabling them to leverage the widget's template parameter for local file inclusion attacks.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can achieve arbitrary file inclusion and code execution on vulnerable WordPress servers through recursive directory traversal bypass, potentially leading to complete site compromise.

Affected Products

• Livemesh Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress versions ≤ 9.0
• WordPress installations with Elementor and Livemesh Addons enabled
• Sites allowing Contributor-level or higher user roles

Discovery Timeline

• April 16, 2026 - CVE-2026-1620 published to NVD
• April 16, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-1620

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the lae_get_template_part() function located in the helper-functions.php file of the Livemesh Addons for Elementor plugin. The function is responsible for loading template files based on user-supplied input, but fails to properly sanitize the template name parameter before including the file.

The core issue lies in the implementation of input sanitization using PHP's str_replace() function. While the developers attempted to filter out directory traversal sequences like ../, the sanitization approach is fundamentally flawed because it only performs a single-pass replacement. Attackers can craft payloads using nested or recursive traversal patterns such as ....// or ..../\ that collapse into valid traversal sequences after the initial replacement occurs.

Once the sanitization is bypassed, attackers can include arbitrary files from the server's filesystem, including sensitive configuration files like wp-config.php or PHP files that can lead to remote code execution when interpreted by the PHP engine.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). The vulnerability arises from:

1. Inadequate Input Validation: The str_replace() function performs only a single-pass sanitization, failing to account for recursive bypass techniques where nested traversal patterns like ....// become ../ after processing.

2. Insufficient Path Canonicalization: The function does not verify that the resolved file path remains within the intended template directory before inclusion.

3. Missing Allowlist Validation: The implementation lacks a strict allowlist of permitted template names, relying solely on blocklist-style filtering which is inherently prone to bypass.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-accessible and requires low-privilege authentication (Contributor-level access). The exploitation flow involves:

1. Authentication: The attacker authenticates to WordPress with at least Contributor-level privileges
2. Widget Manipulation: The attacker accesses or creates content using Livemesh Addons widgets
3. Payload Injection: A specially crafted template parameter containing recursive traversal sequences (e.g., ....//....//....//etc/passwd) is injected
4. Sanitization Bypass: The inadequate str_replace() sanitization transforms ....// into ../, leaving a valid traversal path
5. File Inclusion: The malicious path is passed to PHP's include function, executing arbitrary files on the server

The attack mechanism leverages the recursive nature of the bypass where payload strings like ....//....//....//wp-config.php become ../../../wp-config.php after sanitization, allowing access to files outside the intended template directory. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-1620

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual file access patterns in web server logs targeting paths containing recursive traversal sequences like ....// or ..../\
• WordPress audit logs showing Contributor-level users modifying widget templates or accessing Elementor editor unexpectedly
• Error logs indicating failed file inclusion attempts or warnings about file paths outside the plugin directory
• Unexpected outbound connections from the web server following potential successful exploitation

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application firewall (WAF) logs for requests containing path traversal patterns, especially recursive variants targeting Livemesh Addons endpoints
• Implement file integrity monitoring (FIM) on the WordPress installation to detect unauthorized modifications or new file creations
• Deploy signature-based detection rules for LFI patterns in HTTP request parameters, particularly focusing on widget template parameters
• Audit WordPress user accounts for unexpected privilege assignments or suspicious Contributor accounts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for the WordPress installation and review logs for anomalous template loading behavior
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on directory traversal patterns in HTTP requests to WordPress endpoints
• Implement real-time monitoring of PHP file operations to detect include/require calls with unexpected file paths
• Set up alerting for any access to sensitive files such as wp-config.php, /etc/passwd, or other system files from web processes

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-1620

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Livemesh Addons for Elementor plugin to a version newer than 9.0 that contains the security fix
• Audit WordPress user accounts and revoke Contributor access from any untrusted or unnecessary accounts
• Review web server logs for signs of exploitation attempts and investigate any suspicious activity
• Consider temporarily disabling the Livemesh Addons plugin until a patched version can be deployed

Patch Information

The vulnerability affects all versions of the Livemesh Addons for Elementor plugin up to and including version 9.0. Organizations should update to the latest available version that addresses this Local File Inclusion vulnerability. Technical details of the vulnerable code can be found in the WordPress Plugin Code Repository. Monitor the plugin's changelog and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for patch availability announcements.

Workarounds

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block requests containing recursive directory traversal patterns targeting the affected plugin endpoints
• Restrict Contributor-level access to only trusted users until the plugin is patched, as the vulnerability requires at least Contributor privileges
• Use file system permissions to restrict PHP's ability to read sensitive files outside the WordPress directory structure
• Consider deploying PHP's open_basedir restriction to limit file access to the WordPress installation directory

# Example Apache .htaccess rule to block common LFI patterns
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\./|\.\.\\) [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (\.\.//|\.\.\\\\) [NC]
    RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>