The vulnerability CVE-2026-2917 in the Happy Addons for Elementor plugin is caused by an insecure direct object reference (IDOR) due to improper authorization checks in the ha_duplicate_thing admin action handler. The plugin's can_clone() method only verifies if the current user has the general capability 'edit_posts' without validating permissions on the specific post being cloned. Additionally, the nonce used to authorize the clone action is tied to the generic action name rather than to a unique post ID, enabling nonce reuse across different posts. Consequently, an authenticated user with at least Contributor privileges can obtain a valid nonce from cloning their own posts and then manipulate the post_id parameter to clone any other published post, page, or custom post type. The cloning process duplicates the entire post content, all associated metadata—including potentially sensitive widget configurations and API tokens—and taxonomies, creating a new draft owned by the attacker. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.21.0 of the plugin. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4, reflecting medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and limited confidentiality and integrity impact without availability impact. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the flaw could be leveraged to exfiltrate sensitive data or intellectual property from targeted WordPress sites using this plugin.

Organizations using the Happy Addons for Elementor plugin on WordPress sites face risks of unauthorized content duplication and data exposure. Attackers with Contributor-level access can clone posts and pages they do not own, potentially gaining access to sensitive metadata such as widget configurations and API tokens embedded in post metadata. This can lead to leakage of confidential information, intellectual property theft, and unauthorized content replication. While the vulnerability does not allow direct site takeover or denial of service, the exposure of sensitive data and unauthorized content manipulation can damage organizational reputation, violate data privacy policies, and facilitate further attacks leveraging stolen API tokens or configuration data. Websites relying on this plugin for content management, especially those with multiple contributors, are at risk of insider threat exploitation or compromised contributor accounts being used to escalate data access. The medium severity rating indicates a moderate but tangible risk that should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately update the Happy Addons for Elementor plugin to a patched version once available that enforces proper object-level authorization checks, such as verifying 'edit_post' capability on the specific post ID. Until a patch is released, administrators should restrict Contributor-level permissions or disable the cloning feature if possible. Implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to clone posts with manipulated post_id parameters can provide temporary protection. Additionally, monitoring logs for unusual cloning activity and reviewing user permissions to ensure least privilege principles are enforced will reduce risk. Site owners should also audit post metadata for sensitive information and consider segregating API tokens or sensitive configurations from post metadata to limit exposure. Educating contributors about the risks of sharing nonce values and enforcing strong authentication controls will further reduce exploitation likelihood.