CVE-2023-48777
Elementor Website Builder 3.3.0 – 3.18.2
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2023-48777 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Elementor Website Builder. Its CVSS base score is 9.9 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 10% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-3 (Malicious Code Protection) and CM-7 (Least Functionality) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2023-48777 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability (CWE-434) affecting the Elementor Website Builder plugin for WordPress. It impacts versions 3.3.0 through 3.18.1 and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.9, reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, and changed scope with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
An authenticated attacker with low privileges can exploit the flaw to upload files of dangerous types without restriction. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution or other high-impact actions on the affected site due to the plugin's handling of uploaded content.
The associated EPSS score has reached a current value of 0.8884 with a recorded peak of 0.9150, indicating substantial exploitation likelihood. Public references from Patchstack describe the issue as an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the Elementor plugin at version 3.18.0.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-52810
Vulnerability Data
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.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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V5.1.1
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Malicious-code protection at entry points blocks dangerous file types from being accepted and executed.
Least functionality restricts the file types and automatic processing capabilities the system will accept.
Mobile-code controls define, authorize, and block unacceptable uploaded code before automatic processing occurs.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Restricting execution of unauthorized software directly blocks dangerous uploaded files from running.
Hardened configuration baselines can enforce allowed file types and processing rules.
Secure development practices include input validation and file-type restrictions that prevent this weakness.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Configuration and acceptance testing verify that file-upload handling enforces allowed types and does not permit dangerous content to be stored or executed.
Secure-coding guidelines and security testing explicitly address restrictions on allowed file types and upload handling, reducing the risk that dangerous file uploads are accepted without validation.
Mandated testing for malicious content and known vulnerabilities reduces the likelihood that an outsourced component will contain or accept dangerous file types that could later be uploaded or executed.
Application allow-listing and pre-use scanning of received files directly blocks the introduction of executable content that has not been vetted, eliminating the primary vector for unrestricted dangerous file uploads.