CVE-2025-8488
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with Subscriber-level access or higher to modify compatibility option settings in the Ultimate Addons for Elementor plugin. Attackers can change configuration settings they shouldn't have permission to access. All WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Ultimate Addons for Elementor (Formerly Elementor Header & Footer Builder) WordPress plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could modify plugin settings to disable security features, enable malicious functionality, or cause site instability by changing critical configuration options.
Likely Case
Attackers will modify compatibility settings to potentially break site functionality or prepare for further attacks by adjusting plugin behavior.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and monitoring, impact is limited to unauthorized setting changes that can be detected and reverted.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is technically simple once authenticated. No special tools or knowledge needed beyond basic WordPress user access.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.4.7
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/header-footer-elementor/tags/2.4.7/admin/class-hfe-addons-actions.php#L525
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Ultimate Addons for Elementor'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or download version 2.4.7+ from WordPress repository. 5. Activate the updated plugin.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Temporary Plugin Deactivation
WordPressDeactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched version can be installed
wp plugin deactivate header-footer-elementor
Restrict User Registration
WordPressDisable new user registration to prevent attackers from obtaining Subscriber accounts
Set 'Anyone can register' to false in WordPress Settings → General
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict user role management - review and remove unnecessary Subscriber accounts
- Enable WordPress security logging and monitor for unauthorized setting changes
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check plugin version in WordPress admin: Plugins → Installed Plugins, look for 'Ultimate Addons for Elementor' version 2.4.6 or lowerCheck Version:
wp plugin get header-footer-elementor --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 2.4.7 or higher in WordPress admin plugins page📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- WordPress admin logs showing Subscriber users accessing plugin settings
- Unexpected changes to plugin configuration options
Network Indicators:
- POST requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action 'save_hfe_compatibility_option' from non-admin users
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" action="save_hfe_compatibility_option" user_role="subscriber"🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/header-footer-elementor/tags/2.4.6/admin/class-hfe-addons-actions.php#L494
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/header-footer-elementor/tags/2.4.7/admin/class-hfe-addons-actions.php#L525
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/a4b847b5-9deb-41c4-b976-725249e0098e?source=cve
