Unauthenticated file deletion in ELEX WordPress HelpDesk plugin
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
The ELEX WordPress HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System plugin up to and including 3.3.8 has insufficient file path validation (CWE-22) in its factory_reset function. An unauthenticated remote attacker can delete arbitrary files on the server, and deleting a file such as wp-config.php can lead to remote code execution. The function checks only the request type rather than a capability, so the deletion is reachable without logging in.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
The ELEX WordPress HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion due to insufficient file path validation in the factory_reset function in all versions up to, and including, 3.3.8 This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server, which can easily lead to remote code execution when the right file is deleted (such as wp-config.php). This vulnerability is exploitable via a two-step chain: an unauthenticated attacker first stores an arbitrary ticket_attachment_path value by submitting a ticket through the nopriv eh_crm_new_ticket_post AJAX endpoint (whose nonce is publicly exposed via the [wsdesk_support] shortcode), then triggers the factory_reset routine via a GET request to wp-admin/admin.php?page=wsdesk_factory_reset, which is guarded only by is_admin() — a request-type check — rather than a capability check, causing unlink() to be called on the attacker-supplied path.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| elextensions | ELEX WordPress HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System | up to 3.3.8 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- ELEX WordPress HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System Vendorelextensions Affected up to 3.3.8 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE names Threatist (inferred) · 1
Inferred from how NVD named this product before; not given by a source.
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:elula:wsdesk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | — | — | elextensions |
- cpe:2.3:a:elula:wsdesk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·elextensions
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for ELEX WordPress HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Timeline
- 2026-11-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-114630
- 2026-11-06 Alias added: GHSA-fr9g-x87r-278g
- 2026-11-06 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Other 7
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/2151249a-8e7a-4c7b-89ff-5058942368fb?source=cve
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/elex-helpdesk-customer-support-ticket-system/tags/3.3.8/includes/class-crm-init-handler.php#L808
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/elex-helpdesk-customer-support-ticket-system/tags/3.3.8/elex-helpdesk-customer-support-ticket-system.php#L317
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/elex-helpdesk-customer-support-ticket-system/tags/3.3.8/includes/class-crm-ajax-functions-two.php#L265
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/elex-helpdesk-customer-support-ticket-system/tags/3.3.8/includes/class-crm-init-handler.php#L52
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/elex-helpdesk-customer-support-ticket-system/tags/3.3.8/includes/class-crm-init-handler.php#L271
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3775762/elex-helpdesk-customer-support-ticket-system/trunk/includes/class-crm-init-handler.php
More elextensions vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-75182 Arbitrary file upload in ELEX WordPress HelpDesk plugin via IMAP CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-10495 ELEX WordPress HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System <= 3.3.1 - Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-33180 WordPress ReachShip WooCommerce Multi-Carrier & Conditional Shipping <= 4.3.1 - Arbitrary File Upload Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2025-30155 WordPress ELEX HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System plugin <= 3.2.9 - Arbitrary File Upload vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2024-11286 Missing authorization in elextensions ELEX WordPress HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-70332 SQL injection in ELEX WooCommerce Advanced Bulk Edit plugin CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-114630 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-114630 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-fr9g-x87r-278g · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences