📄 Description (English)
The Easy Elements for Elementor – Addons & Website Templates plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.5 via the `easyel_handle_register()` function. This is due to the `wp_ajax_nopriv_eel_register` AJAX handler iterating the attacker-controlled `custom_meta` POST array and writing every supplied key-value pair to the newly created user's meta via `update_user_meta()` without any key whitelist or blocklist, allowing the `wp_capabilities` user meta key to be overwritten after `wp_insert_user()` has already assigned a safe role. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to register a new account with full administrator-level privileges by supplying `custom_meta[wp_capabilities][administrator]=1`. Exploitation requires that user registration is enabled on the site and that at least one page exposes the Login/Register widget, which publishes the required `easy_elements_nonce` into the page DOM where it can be retrieved by any unauthenticated visitor via a simple GET request.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
The Easy Elements for Elementor plugin (versions ≤1.4.5) contains a critical privilege escalation vulnerability allowing unauthenticated attackers to register new WordPress accounts with full administrator privileges. The vulnerability exploits improper handling of user metadata during registration, bypassing role assignment controls. This poses an immediate threat to any WordPress site using this plugin with user registration enabled.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 23, 2026 19:54
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
High impact for Saudi organizations using WordPress-based platforms: Government websites and ministries (MCIT, CITC) using Elementor for public portals face immediate compromise risk. Banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions) with WordPress-based customer portals could experience unauthorized administrative access. Healthcare providers (MOH) using WordPress for patient portals or information systems are at risk. E-commerce and SME sectors heavily reliant on WordPress face complete site takeover. Telecom companies (STC, Mobily) with WordPress-based services could be compromised. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in Saudi context where many government and enterprise sites use WordPress with public registration enabled.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Government & Public Administration (MCIT, CITC, Ministries)
Banking & Financial Services (SAMA-regulated institutions)
Healthcare (MOH, Private Hospitals)
Energy & Utilities (ARAMCO, SEC)
Telecommunications (STC, Mobily, Zain)
E-commerce & Retail
Education (Universities, Schools)
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1078 - Valid Accounts (Account Creation with Elevated Privileges)
T1078.002 - Valid Accounts: Domain Accounts
T1547 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
T1098 - Account Manipulation
T1098.001 - Account Manipulation: Additional Cloud Credentials
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1199 - Trusted Relationship
T1566 - Phishing
T1566.002 - Phishing: Spearphishing Link
T1589 - Gather Victim Identity Information
T1592 - Gather Victim Host Information
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Disable user registration on all WordPress sites using Easy Elements for Elementor until patching is available
2. If registration must remain enabled, restrict access to Login/Register widgets via IP whitelisting or authentication requirements
3. Audit all user accounts created in the past 30 days for suspicious administrator accounts with creation dates matching potential exploitation windows
4. Review WordPress user meta tables for unauthorized wp_capabilities modifications
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Monitor Easy Elements plugin repository for version 1.4.6+ security patch
2. Immediately update to patched version upon release
3. If no patch available within 7 days, consider disabling the plugin entirely
COMPENSATING CONTROLS:
1. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block POST requests to wp-admin-ajax.php containing 'eel_register' and 'custom_meta[wp_capabilities]' parameters
2. Deploy WordPress security plugin (Wordfence, Sucuri) with real-time malware scanning and login attempt monitoring
3. Implement two-factor authentication (2FA) for all administrator accounts
4. Enable WordPress audit logging to track user creation and role changes
5. Restrict wp-admin access to specific IP ranges (government/corporate networks only)
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor WordPress access logs for POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=eel_register
2. Alert on any user creation events with wp_capabilities in POST data
3. Flag new administrator accounts created outside normal business processes
4. Monitor wp_usermeta table for unauthorized wp_capabilities modifications
5. Track nonce token exposure in page source (easy_elements_nonce in DOM)
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تعطيل تسجيل المستخدمين على جميع مواقع WordPress التي تستخدم Easy Elements for Elementor حتى يتوفر التصحيح
2. إذا كان يجب الاحتفاظ بالتسجيل، قيد الوصول إلى عناصر تسجيل الدخول/التسجيل عبر قائمة بيضاء IP أو متطلبات المصادقة
3. تدقيق جميع حسابات المستخدمين التي تم إنشاؤها في آخر 30 يوماً بحثاً عن حسابات مسؤول مريبة
4. مراجعة جداول بيانات وصفات المستخدم في WordPress للتعديلات غير المصرح بها على wp_capabilities
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. مراقبة مستودع مكون Easy Elements للحصول على تصحيح أمان الإصدار 1.4.6+
2. التحديث الفوري إلى الإصدار المصحح عند توفره
3. إذا لم يتوفر تصحيح خلال 7 أيام، فكر في تعطيل المكون بالكامل
عناصر التحكم التعويضية:
1. تنفيذ قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) لحظر طلبات POST التي تحتوي على معاملات 'eel_register' و 'custom_meta[wp_capabilities]'
2. نشر مكون أمان WordPress (Wordfence, Sucuri) مع المسح الفوري للبرامج الضارة
3. تنفيذ المصادقة متعددة العوامل (2FA) لجميع حسابات المسؤول
4. تفعيل تسجيل تدقيق WordPress لتتبع إنشاء المستخدمين وتغييرات الأدوار
5. تقييد الوصول إلى wp-admin لنطاقات IP محددة
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة سجلات الوصول إلى WordPress لطلبات POST إلى /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=eel_register
2. تنبيه عند أي أحداث إنشاء مستخدم تحتوي على wp_capabilities في بيانات POST
3. وضع علامة على حسابات المسؤول الجديدة المنشأة خارج العمليات العادية
4. مراقبة جدول wp_usermeta للتعديلات غير المصرح بها على wp_capabilities
5. تتبع تعريض رمز nonce في مصدر الصفحة
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies and Procedures
A.6.1.1 - User Access Management
A.6.2.1 - User Registration and De-registration
A.7.1.1 - Physical and Environmental Security
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
A.12.4.1 - Event Logging
A.12.4.3 - Administrator and Operator Logs
🔵 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
PR.AC-4 - Access Rights Management
DE.AE-1 - Audit and Accountability
DE.CM-1 - System Monitoring
RS.AN-1 - Characterization
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
5.15 - Access Control
5.16 - Identification and Authentication
5.17 - Access Rights
5.18 - Information Security in Supplier Relationships
8.2 - Information Security Awareness, Education and Training
8.3 - Information Security Incident Management
8.4 - Management of Information Security Incidents and Improvements
A.5.1 - Policies for Information Security
A.6.1 - User Registration and Access Rights Management
A.6.2 - User Access Provisioning and De-provisioning
A.9.1 - Access Control Policy
A.9.2 - User Access Management
A.9.4 - Access Control to Information and Other Associated Assets
A.12.4 - Logging
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 2.1 - Configuration Standards
Requirement 6.2 - Security Patches
Requirement 7 - Restrict Access to Data
Requirement 8 - Identify and Authenticate Access
Requirement 8.1 - User Identification and Authentication
Requirement 8.2 - User Access Management
Requirement 10 - Track and Monitor Access to Network Resources
🔗 References & Sources 5
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https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/easy-elements/tags/1.4.5/includes/Utils/Enqu...
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/easy-elements/tags/1.4.5/widgets/login-regis...
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/easy-elements/tags/1.4.5/widgets/login-regis...
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/easy-elements/tags/1.4.5/widgets/login-regis...
security@wordfence.com
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/f1de4899-532a-4558-bff0-f4610...
security@wordfence.com