CVE-2026-42629 Overview
CVE-2026-42629 is a broken authentication vulnerability affecting the PowerPack Pro for Elementor WordPress plugin in versions prior to 2.13.0. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass authentication controls over the network, leading to potential compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The weakness is classified under CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel. Successful exploitation requires limited user interaction but does not require privileges or prior authentication, making vulnerable WordPress sites attractive targets for opportunistic attackers.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network attackers can bypass authentication in PowerPack Pro for Elementor versions earlier than 2.13.0, putting WordPress site confidentiality, integrity, and availability at risk.
Affected Products
- PowerPack Pro for Elementor plugin for WordPress
- All versions prior to 2.13.0
- WordPress installations using vulnerable plugin builds
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-17 - CVE-2026-42629 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-42629
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the authentication logic of the PowerPack Pro for Elementor plugin. Affected versions fail to enforce proper authentication checks on a code path that should be restricted to verified users. An unauthenticated attacker can reach the vulnerable endpoint over the network and obtain access or perform actions reserved for authenticated principals.
The issue is tracked under CWE-288, which covers cases where an application exposes an alternate route that bypasses normal authentication. With user interaction required, an attacker likely needs to induce a victim to trigger a request, follow a link, or visit a crafted page. Once triggered, the bypass exposes site data, admin functionality, or content modification capabilities depending on the affected endpoint.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient authentication enforcement on a plugin code path. The plugin trusts request-supplied state instead of validating session and capability checks server-side. See the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability database entry for vendor-specific technical details.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based with low complexity. The attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to a vulnerable WordPress site running PowerPack Pro for Elementor before 2.13.0. User interaction is required, which typically aligns with phishing, click-bait, or comment-injection workflows that cause an authenticated administrator or visitor to trigger the vulnerable path. No prior credentials are needed by the attacker.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is currently available. Refer to the linked Patchstack advisory for additional context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-42629
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected administrative actions originating from non-admin sessions or unauthenticated requests against PowerPack Pro for Elementor endpoints.
- HTTP requests targeting plugin paths under /wp-content/plugins/powerpack-elements/ from external IPs lacking valid session cookies.
- New or modified WordPress user accounts, posts, or plugin configuration changes that correlate with PowerPack-related request traffic.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all WordPress sites and identify installations of PowerPack Pro for Elementor with versions earlier than 2.13.0.
- Inspect web server access logs for anomalous POST or AJAX traffic targeting PowerPack Pro for Elementor handlers without authentication cookies.
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) ruleset that flags requests to PowerPack endpoints lacking valid wp_nonce parameters or session identifiers.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WordPress and web server logs into a centralized SIEM or data lake for query-based hunting across PowerPack request patterns.
- Monitor for sudden changes in WordPress option tables, user roles, and plugin settings, especially on multisite deployments.
- Alert on outbound requests from WordPress hosts to attacker-controlled domains following PowerPack endpoint access.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-42629
Immediate Actions Required
- Update PowerPack Pro for Elementor to version 2.13.0 or later on every WordPress installation.
- Audit administrator accounts, scheduled tasks, and plugin configurations for unauthorized changes made before patching.
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions after applying the update.
Patch Information
The vendor fixed the broken authentication issue in PowerPack Pro for Elementor 2.13.0. Apply the update through the WordPress plugin manager or via the vendor distribution channel. Detailed remediation guidance is available in the Patchstack advisory.
Workarounds
- Temporarily deactivate the PowerPack Pro for Elementor plugin until the upgrade to 2.13.0 is completed.
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ and plugin endpoints by IP allowlist or HTTP basic authentication at the reverse proxy.
- Enable WAF virtual patching rules that block unauthenticated access to PowerPack request handlers.
# Example: update PowerPack Pro for Elementor with WP-CLI
wp plugin update powerpack-elements --version=2.13.0
wp plugin list --name=powerpack-elements --field=version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
