#37360·elementor

V4 e-paragraph (also components): a link added in the text is saved with unescaped ", making _elementor_data invalid JSON and blanking the page

Author: benyten9Created Sep 21, 2026Updated Sep 21, 2026
Labelsstatus/awaiting_triageproduct/editor-v4

Description

On Elementor and Elementor Pro 4.3.0-beta3 (Editor V4), adding a link to part of the text in a paragraph and clicking Update stores the paragraph as "paragraph":{"$$type":"escaped-html","value":"Call 407-777-1790 or ..."}. The quotes inside the value have no backslash, so the whole _elementor_data meta is invalid JSON (Expecting ',' delimiter). The page then renders with no sections, and later saves keep the corruption. It happened on every save that contained such a link, at least 6 times, on the Home page. It also happened with a link set in a component text override, and in a Custom HTML widget containing an iframe with double-quoted attributes. I confirmed it by reading the post meta and the revisions through the REST API: the last revision before the link is valid, and the one right after is not.

Steps to reproduce

Create a page in the Editor V4 and add an e-paragraph widget with some text. Select part of the text and add a link with the toolbar (for example tel: or a URL). Click Update. Open the front end, or read _elementor_data (post meta or revisions).

Expected behavior

The link is stored with escaped quotes, the data stays valid JSON, and the page keeps rendering.

Also to state: I have not tested on a clean install with only Elementor, Elementor Pro and Hello active, and the site runs a beta build.

Elementor System Info

txt
== Server Environment ==
Operating System: Linux
Software: LiteSpeed
MySQL version: MariaDB Server v11.8.9-MariaDB-log
PHP Version: 8.3.33
PHP Memory Limit: 2048M
PHP Max Input Vars: 5000
PHP Max Post Size: 2048M
GD Installed: Yes
ZIP Installed: Yes
Write Permissions: All right
Elementor Library: Connected

== WordPress Environment ==
Version: 7.1.1
WP Multisite: No
Max Upload Size: 2 GB
Memory limit: 40M
Max Memory limit: 2048M
Permalink Structure: /%postname%/
Language: en_US
Debug Mode: Inactive

== Theme ==
Name: Hello Elementor
Version: 3.5.1
Child Theme: No

== User ==
Role: administrator

== Active Plugins ==
Classic Editor 1.7.0
Elementor 4.3.0-beta3
Elementor Pro 4.3.0-beta3
LiteSpeed Cache 7.9.1
SEOPress 10.2
Widgets for Google Reviews (Trustindex) 14.1.1

== Must-Use Plugins ==
Hostinger Preview Domain 1.4.0
Hostinger Smart Auto Updates 1.0.8

== Elementor - Compatibility Tag ==
elementor-pro: compatible

Agreement

  • I confirm I have read and followed all the guidelines and instructions outlined in the Editor V4 Bug Report form.
  • I agree that my issue may be closed without further action if it doesn't meet all the requirements outlined in the Editor V4 Bug Report form.