# CVE-2026-15338: Path traversal in LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor

> Authenticated contributors can exploit a path traversal flaw in the LA-Studio Element Kit plugin to include and execute arbitrary PHP files, leading to code execution.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 11 Jul 2026
- **Updated:** 14 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qhjj-796c-vm9h

## What is CVE-2026-15338?

CVE-2026-15338 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in choijun LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor, published on 11 Jul 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion in all versions up to, and including, 1.6.1 via the get_type_template function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to include and execute arbitrary .php files on the server, allowing the execution of any PHP code in those files. This can be used to bypass access controls, obtain sensitive data, or achieve code execution in cases where .php file types can be uploaded and included. The wp_normalize_path function used in get_template only normalizes directory separators and does not resolve or reject path traversal sequences, while the extension check is trivially bypassed because the caller already appends the required extension to the traversal payload.

Weakness: CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-15338?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-15338?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-15338 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-15338 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-15338 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-15338 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-15338 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in choijun LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor, published on 11 Jul 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-15338 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: choijun LA-Studio Element Kit 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-2026-15338/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-15338/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-15338
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-15338
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-15338

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-15338/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.