CVE-2026-92924 Overview
CVE-2026-92924 affects the Unlimited Elements for Elementor WordPress plugin in versions before 2.0.21. The plugin fails to verify that a widget rendering request originates from an authorized user. Low-privileged users can trigger arbitrary WordPress shortcode execution through the vulnerable endpoint.
Versions prior to 2.0.18 permitted exploitation from the subscriber role. Starting with 2.0.18, the plugin removed subscriber-level access, raising the required privilege to the contributor role or above. The flaw is tracked under [CWE-74] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).
Critical Impact
Authenticated users with low privileges can execute arbitrary WordPress shortcodes, enabling information disclosure, content manipulation, or chained abuse of other plugin shortcodes.
Affected Products
- Unlimited Elements for Elementor WordPress plugin versions prior to 2.0.21
- Versions prior to 2.0.18 (exploitable from subscriber role)
- Versions 2.0.18 through 2.0.20 (exploitable from contributor role)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-10-02 - CVE-2026-92924 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-10-02 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-92924
Vulnerability Analysis
The Unlimited Elements for Elementor plugin exposes an AJAX endpoint that renders widget output on demand. The handler accepts shortcode content as input and processes it server-side. The vulnerability stems from the absence of a capability check before rendering.
Any authenticated user can issue a request to the endpoint and have the supplied shortcode evaluated in the context of WordPress. Shortcodes execute whatever logic their registering plugin or theme defines. Attackers can therefore reach functionality normally reserved for editors or administrators by invoking shortcodes registered by other components on the site.
Root Cause
The plugin's widget render handler omits a current_user_can() capability check and does not validate role requirements before invoking shortcode processing. Nonce validation alone is insufficient because low-privileged authenticated users can obtain valid nonces. The remediation in version 2.0.18 restricted access to contributor and above, and version 2.0.21 added proper authorization enforcement.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access and authenticated session credentials. In versions below 2.0.18, a subscriber-level account suffices, which is significant because many WordPress sites allow self-registration at that tier. From 2.0.18 to 2.0.20, a contributor account is required. The attacker submits a crafted request to the widget render endpoint with a payload that includes arbitrary shortcodes supported by the site. The server processes the shortcodes and returns the rendered output.
The vulnerability manifests in the AJAX render path of the plugin. See the WPScan Vulnerability Report for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-92924
Indicators of Compromise
- POST requests to WordPress admin-ajax.php referencing Unlimited Elements widget render actions from accounts without editor or administrator roles
- Request payloads containing WordPress shortcode syntax such as [shortcode_name] submitted by subscriber or contributor accounts
- Unexpected shortcode output in HTTP responses correlated with low-privilege session cookies
Detection Strategies
- Review web server access logs for repeated POST requests to the plugin's AJAX render endpoint from the same low-privilege user agent
- Correlate WordPress user role data with AJAX request origins to identify requests from users without rendering permissions
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that inspects request bodies for shortcode patterns submitted to the Unlimited Elements render action
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging to capture AJAX actions, user roles, and request parameters for the vulnerable plugin
- Alert on new user registrations followed shortly by requests to Unlimited Elements AJAX endpoints
- Monitor outbound requests from the WordPress host that could indicate shortcode-triggered server-side activity
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-92924
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the Unlimited Elements for Elementor plugin to version 2.0.21 or later on all WordPress installations
- Audit WordPress user accounts and remove or demote unused subscriber and contributor accounts
- Disable open user registration temporarily if the plugin cannot be patched immediately
Patch Information
The vendor addressed the issue in Unlimited Elements for Elementor version 2.0.21 by adding proper authorization checks to the widget render handler. Version 2.0.18 served as a partial fix by removing subscriber-level access. Site operators should install 2.0.21 or later to fully remediate the flaw. Refer to the WPScan Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php for unauthenticated and low-privilege sessions through a web application firewall
- Disable the Unlimited Elements for Elementor plugin until the patched version is deployed
- Remove or restrict registration of shortcodes that perform sensitive actions on the site
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.