# CVE-2026-12869: Header Footer Builder for Elementor < 1.2.1 - Contributor+ Stored XSS via Template Import

> Contributors can inject JavaScript via template import, leading to stored XSS that executes in administrator sessions.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 16 Jul 2026
- **Updated:** 16 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mm7h-qq6c-6h9w

## What is CVE-2026-12869?

CVE-2026-12869 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Unknown Header Footer Builder for Elementor, published on 16 Jul 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The Header Footer Builder for Elementor WordPress plugin before 1.2.1 does not require an administrative capability for its dashboard template-import action (it allows any edit_posts user), so a Contributor can import a template containing an Elementor HTML widget configured to display site-wide, injecting JavaScript that executes in the session of any visitor or administrator who loads the site.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-12869?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-12869?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-12869 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-12869 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-12869 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-12869 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-12869 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Unknown Header Footer Builder for Elementor, published on 16 Jul 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-12869 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Header Footer Builder for Elementor. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-12869/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-12869/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-12869
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12869
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-12869

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-12869/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.