CVE-2020-13126Known exploitationNetwork attack vector

Authenticated code execution via unchecked icon archives

Published May 17, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Unrestricted file upload in Elementor Pro before 2.9.4 allows remote authenticated users to execute code through the Custom Icon uploader. The custom_icons_upload_handler AJAX path lacks a capability check, and icon archive validation accepts trusted-format ZIP files containing extra PHP files. Subscriber access exposes a dashboard nonce; extracted PHP webshells run from the web-accessible custom-icon upload directory, enabling site and host compromise.

CVSS severity9.9
Critical
EPSS probability8.57%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unrestricted file upload in Elementor Pro before 2.9.4 allows remote authenticated users to execute code through the Custom Icon uploader. The custom_icons_upload_handler AJAX path lacks a capability check, and icon archive validation accepts trusted-format ZIP files containing extra PHP files. Subscriber access exposes a dashboard nonce; extracted PHP webshells run from the web-accessible custom-icon upload directory, enabling site and host compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-13126
Published
May 17, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-434, T1505.003, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 5, 2020Exploitation reportedElementor Pro attacks observed in May 2020
  2. May 17, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
9.9NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.9MITRECVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
T1505.003Web Shell
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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