CVE-2026-28147 Overview
CVE-2026-28147 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the Unlimited Elements For Elementor (Free Widgets, Addons, Templates) WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.0.15. Authenticated attackers with low-level privileges can exploit incorrectly configured access control checks to invoke restricted plugin functionality over the network. The vulnerability enables limited impact to integrity and availability without requiring user interaction. Site administrators running affected versions should update immediately to reduce exposure to unauthorized actions performed by low-privilege users.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with low privileges can bypass access control checks and invoke restricted plugin functions, leading to limited integrity and availability impact on affected WordPress sites.
Affected Products
- Unlimited Elements For Elementor (Free Widgets, Addons, Templates) — versions through 2.0.15
- WordPress sites with the plugin installed and activated
- Environments allowing self-registration or low-privileged user accounts
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-03 - CVE-2026-28147 published to NVD
- 2026-08-03 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-28147
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from a broken access control condition in the Unlimited Elements For Elementor plugin. Plugin endpoints fail to properly verify that the requesting user holds the correct capability or role before executing sensitive operations. An authenticated user with low privileges, such as a subscriber, can invoke functions that should be restricted to editors or administrators.
The issue is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization. The attack surface is exposed over the network through standard WordPress AJAX or REST endpoints registered by the plugin. Exploitation does not require user interaction or elevated privileges beyond authentication.
Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized modification of plugin-managed resources and disruption of expected functionality. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory for additional technical context.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of capability checks, such as current_user_can(), or missing nonce validation on plugin action handlers. Without these checks, WordPress processes requests from any authenticated user regardless of their assigned role.
Attack Vector
An attacker must first obtain an authenticated account on the target WordPress instance. The attacker then sends crafted HTTP requests to vulnerable plugin endpoints. Because authorization is not enforced server-side, the plugin executes the requested action on behalf of the low-privileged user.
No verified proof-of-concept code has been published for this vulnerability. Refer to the vendor advisory for endpoint-specific details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-28147
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected requests from low-privileged accounts to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php targeting Unlimited Elements plugin actions
- Modifications to plugin-managed widgets, templates, or settings performed by non-administrative users
- New or altered content entries in the plugin's database tables originating from subscriber-level accounts
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress audit logs for plugin action calls initiated by users lacking editor or administrator roles
- Correlate authentication events with subsequent privileged plugin operations to identify authorization bypass patterns
- Deploy web application firewall rules that inspect requests to Unlimited Elements endpoints and validate the requester's role
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress activity logging plugin to capture all plugin AJAX and REST calls with user context
- Alert on any modification to plugin content or configuration performed outside expected administrative workflows
- Monitor for spikes in traffic to plugin-specific endpoints from newly registered or dormant accounts
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-28147
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Unlimited Elements For Elementor to a version later than 2.0.15 once the vendor releases a patched build
- Audit existing user accounts and remove or downgrade unnecessary low-privilege accounts, especially self-registered subscribers
- Disable open user registration on WordPress sites that do not require it
Patch Information
At the time of publication, users should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory for the latest fixed version information from the plugin vendor. Apply the fixed release through the WordPress plugin update mechanism.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the Unlimited Elements For Elementor plugin until a patched version is installed
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin REST routes using web application firewall rules that enforce role-based access
- Set the WordPress users_can_register option to false to prevent unauthenticated attackers from creating low-privilege accounts
# Disable open user registration via WP-CLI
wp option update users_can_register 0
# Deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate unlimited-elements-for-elementor
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
