📄 Description (English)
The Vertex Addons for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Missing Authorization in all versions up to and including 1.6.4. This is due to improper authorization enforcement in the activate_required_plugins() function. Specifically, the current_user_can('install_plugins') capability check does not terminate execution when it fails — it only sets an error message variable while allowing the plugin installation and activation code to execute. The error response is only sent after the installation and activation have already completed. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to install and activate arbitrary plugins from the WordPress.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2026-4326 is a critical authorization bypass vulnerability in Vertex Addons for Elementor affecting WordPress installations. Authenticated users with minimal Subscriber privileges can install and activate arbitrary plugins due to improper capability checks that fail to prevent execution. This vulnerability poses severe risks to Saudi organizations using WordPress for web presence, potentially enabling complete site compromise and lateral movement into critical infrastructure.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 23, 2026 11:46
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
High impact for Saudi organizations across multiple sectors: Government agencies and municipalities using WordPress for public portals face risk of defacement and data breach; Banking and financial services using WordPress for customer-facing applications risk credential theft and fraud; Healthcare institutions risk patient data exposure; E-commerce and retail sectors risk payment system compromise; Telecommunications companies risk service disruption. SMEs and startups in Saudi Arabia heavily reliant on WordPress are particularly vulnerable due to limited security resources.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government and Public Administration
Banking and Financial Services
Healthcare and Medical Services
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
E-commerce and Retail
Education
Media and Publishing
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1548 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Elevated Execution with Prompt
T1547 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
T1547.014 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Browser Extensions
T1199 - Trusted Relationship
T1566 - Phishing
T1195 - Supply Chain Compromise
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.9
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Disable the Vertex Addons for Elementor plugin immediately across all WordPress installations
2. Audit WordPress user accounts and remove unnecessary Subscriber-level accounts
3. Review plugin installation logs and audit trail for unauthorized plugin installations
4. Scan all installed plugins for malicious code or backdoors
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Monitor Vertex Addons GitHub repository and official WordPress plugin page for security updates
2. Do not re-enable plugin until version 1.6.5 or later is released with proper authorization checks
3. When patch is available, test in staging environment before production deployment
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (until patch available):
1. Implement WordPress user role restrictions: Remove Subscriber role from all non-essential users
2. Use WordPress security plugins (Wordfence, Sucuri) to monitor plugin installation attempts
3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block plugin installation endpoints
4. Enable WordPress core file integrity monitoring
5. Restrict wp-admin access by IP whitelist for administrative users only
6. Implement multi-factor authentication for all WordPress administrative accounts
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor WordPress logs for activate_required_plugins() function calls from non-admin users
2. Alert on any plugin installation attempts from Subscriber-level accounts
3. Monitor wp-content/plugins directory for new plugin additions
4. Track wp_options table modifications related to active_plugins
5. Log all capability check failures in WordPress security audit logs
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تعطيل إضافة Vertex Addons for Elementor فوراً على جميع تثبيتات WordPress
2. تدقيق حسابات مستخدمي WordPress وإزالة حسابات Subscriber غير الضرورية
3. مراجعة سجلات تثبيت الإضافات والتحقق من التثبيتات غير المصرح بها
4. فحص جميع الإضافات المثبتة بحثاً عن أكواد ضارة أو أبواب خلفية
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. مراقبة مستودع Vertex Addons وصفحة WordPress الرسمية للتحديثات الأمنية
2. عدم إعادة تفعيل الإضافة حتى يتم إصدار الإصدار 1.6.5 أو أحدث
3. عند توفر التصحيح، اختبر في بيئة التطوير قبل الإنتاج
الضوابط البديلة (حتى توفر التصحيح):
1. تطبيق قيود أدوار مستخدمي WordPress: إزالة دور Subscriber من المستخدمين غير الأساسيين
2. استخدام إضافات أمان WordPress لمراقبة محاولات تثبيت الإضافات
3. تطبيق قواعد جدار الحماية لحجب نقاط نهاية تثبيت الإضافات
4. تفعيل مراقبة سلامة ملفات WordPress الأساسية
5. تقييد الوصول إلى wp-admin حسب قائمة بيضاء للعناوين
6. تطبيق المصادقة متعددة العوامل لجميع حسابات WordPress الإدارية
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة سجلات WordPress لاستدعاءات activate_required_plugins() من مستخدمين غير إداريين
2. تنبيهات على محاولات تثبيت الإضافات من حسابات Subscriber
3. مراقبة دليل wp-content/plugins للإضافات الجديدة
4. تتبع تعديلات جدول wp_options المتعلقة بـ active_plugins
5. تسجيل جميع فشل فحوصات الصلاحيات
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies and Procedures
A.6.1.1 - Internal Organization
A.6.2.1 - Access Control
A.9.1.1 - Access Control Policy
A.9.2.1 - User Access Management
A.9.4.1 - Access Control to Information and Other Associated Assets
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-1 - Asset Management
PR.AC-1 - Access Control Policy
PR.AC-2 - Physical and Logical Access Controls
PR.AC-3 - Access Enforcement
DE.CM-1 - Detection and Analysis
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1 - Management Direction for Information Security
A.6.1 - Internal Organization
A.6.2 - Mobile Device and Teleworking
A.8.1 - User Endpoint Devices
A.9.1 - Access Control Policy
A.9.2 - User Access Management
A.9.4 - Access Control to Information and Other Associated Assets
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 1.1 - Firewall Configuration Standards
Requirement 6.2 - Security Patches
Requirement 7 - Restrict Access to Data
Requirement 8.1 - User Identification and Authentication
🔗 References & Sources 10
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https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/addons-for-elementor-builder/tags/1.6.4/app/...
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/addons-for-elementor-builder/tags/1.6.4/app/...
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/addons-for-elementor-builder/tags/1.6.4/app/...
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/addons-for-elementor-builder/tags/1.6.4/app/...
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/addons-for-elementor-builder/trunk/app/Ajax....
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/addons-for-elementor-builder/trunk/app/Ajax....
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/addons-for-elementor-builder/trunk/app/Ajax....
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/addons-for-elementor-builder/trunk/app/Ajax....
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=349114...
security@wordfence.com
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/1bb409f0-ccbd-4dfa-b097-b29ee...
security@wordfence.com