CVE-2021-4331 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A security vulnerability has been identified in The Plus Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress, potentially allowing privilege escalation up to version 4.1.9 (pro) and 2.0.6 (free).

Understanding CVE-2021-4331

This section will provide insights into the nature of the CVE-2021-4331 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-4331?

The Plus Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress is susceptible to privilege escalation up to version 4.1.9 (pro) and 2.0.6 (free), allowing lower-level users to elevate their roles to administrator.

The Impact of CVE-2021-4331

The vulnerability could potentially lead to unauthorized users gaining administrative access, posing a significant security risk to WordPress websites utilizing the affected plugin.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-4331

In this section, we will delve into the specifics of the CVE-2021-4331 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows contributors to alter their default user role to administrator via the registration form within the Elementor page builder, potentially granting unauthorized escalated privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Unknown
Product: The Plus Addons for Elementor Page Builder
Versions Affected: Up to and including 4.1.9 (pro)
Vendor: posimyththemes
Product: The Plus Addons for Elementor | FREE Elementor Widgets & Elementor Templates
Versions Affected: Up to and including 2.0.6 (free)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises due to a lack of proper authorization controls, enabling contributors to manipulate user roles, bypassing intended access restrictions.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section will outline measures to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-4331.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the vulnerability, users are advised to update The Plus Addons for Elementor plugin to the latest patched version and monitor user roles for any unauthorized changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust access controls, regularly audit user roles, and educate users on secure role management practices to prevent privilege escalation attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about plugin updates and security patches released by the plugin developers to address known vulnerabilities.