CVE-2026-49782: Elementor Missing Authorization Vulnerability – CVSS 5.4

Technical summary

CVE-2026-49782 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in Elementor Website Builder affecting versions through 4.1.0. The vulnerability stems from improper implementation of access control checks, allowing authenticated users to exploit permission misconfigurations. The attack vector is network-based, requires valid authentication credentials (PR:L), and involves no user interaction. The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.4 reflects low confidentiality and integrity impact with no availability impact. The vulnerability does not appear on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating no confirmed active exploitation at the time of publication.

Business impact

Organizations using Elementor Website Builder may face lateral privilege escalation risks if contributors, editors, or other lower-privileged user roles can access or modify content, settings, or resources intended only for administrators. This could lead to unauthorized website modifications, data theft, or compliance violations if sensitive customer or business information is exposed through improperly gated features. For agencies and enterprises managing multi-user WordPress installations, this creates an administrative overhead for access control audits.

Affected systems

Elementor Website Builder version 4.1.0 and all prior versions are affected. The vulnerability was published on June 2, 2026, with updates through June 17, 2026. The advisory does not specify which editions (free, pro, or agency) are impacted, so organizations should assume all installations are potentially vulnerable until vendor guidance clarifies otherwise. Environments with multiple user roles and untrusted or disgruntled internal users present elevated risk.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires valid authentication credentials, making this a low-barrier attack for anyone with a user account on the site. No special tools, exploit code, or user interaction are needed once the attacker has logged in. However, the attack surface is limited to authenticated users, not the general internet. Organizations with weak password policies, credential reuse, or excessive user account provisioning face higher risk. The lack of KEV listing suggests no widespread weaponization or active exploitation campaigns are currently documented.

Remediation

Upgrade Elementor Website Builder to a patched version as soon as possible; verify the latest available version against the official Elementor release notes and security advisories. Until patching is complete, review and audit user role assignments, disabling or downgrading unnecessary administrator privileges. Implement additional controls such as two-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regular access reviews. Monitor user activity logs for suspicious permission changes or unauthorized feature access.

Patch guidance

Contact Elementor directly or consult their official security advisory for the specific patched version that remedies CVE-2026-49782. The vulnerability affects versions up to 4.1.0, so any release marked as addressing this CVE should be adopted immediately. Test patches in a staging environment first, especially if your site relies on custom plugins or themes that may have compatibility issues. Establish a routine WordPress and plugin update cadence to prevent future authorization flaws from persisting.

Detection guidance

Monitor WordPress user activity logs and audit trails for authentication events followed by unusual feature access or permission changes that don't align with the user's assigned role. Look for database queries or API calls that bypass normal authorization checks. Review Elementor configuration exports or database records for evidence of permission misconfigurations. Consider deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set that detects unauthorized access attempts. Log retention and analysis are critical, as post-exploitation forensics will depend on detailed audit records.

Why prioritize this

Although the CVSS score is moderate (5.4), organizations should prioritize this vulnerability because (1) it requires only low authentication barriers, (2) it directly undermines access control, a foundational security principle, and (3) misconfigurations can persist silently without triggering alerts. The lack of KEV status provides a brief window to patch before active exploitation emerges. For multi-user WordPress instances and SaaS environments, this should be elevated to high priority.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.4 (MEDIUM) reflects the requirement for valid authentication credentials (PR:L), which limits the immediate attack surface to insiders and compromised accounts. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are low, indicating partial data leakage or modification rather than catastrophic system compromise. Availability is unaffected. However, the practical severity depends on your environment: a single-user blog poses minimal risk, while a multi-tenant platform with diverse user roles and sensitive content faces substantially higher real-world impact. Score this higher if your threat model includes disgruntled staff or third-party contributors.

Frequently asked questions