The component-plugin element is used to dynamically extend the configuration of a given component. Thanks to the profiles the component-plugins could be enabled or disabled:
<external-component-plugins>
<target-component>Component</target-component>
<component-plugin profiles="foo">
<name>foo</name>
<set-method>addPlugin</set-method>
<type>type</type>
<init-params>
<value-param>
<name>param</name>
<value>empty</value>
</value-param>
</init-params>
</component-plugin>
</external-component-plugins>