CVE-2025-26761 Overview
CVE-2025-26761 is a DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Easy Elementor Addons WordPress plugin by hashthemes. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under [CWE-79]. All plugin versions up to and including 2.1.5 are affected. Successful exploitation requires an attacker with low privileges and user interaction, allowing injected scripts to execute in the victim's browser context. Because the scope is changed, the impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component and reach additional resources controlled by the browser session.
Critical Impact
Attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript in the browsers of authenticated WordPress users, enabling session theft, administrative action hijacking, and content defacement.
Affected Products
- hashthemes Easy Elementor Addons plugin for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 2.1.5
- WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-16 - CVE-2025-26761 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26761
Vulnerability Analysis
The Easy Elementor Addons plugin fails to properly sanitize user-controlled input before it is written into the Document Object Model (DOM). As a result, attacker-controlled data flows into a client-side sink such as innerHTML, document.write, or an equivalent JavaScript API without encoding. When the browser renders the mutated DOM, injected markup is parsed and any embedded script executes with the privileges of the visiting user.
DOM-based XSS differs from reflected or stored variants because the injection occurs entirely in the browser. The malicious payload may never appear in server responses, which complicates server-side detection. The vulnerability requires authenticated access with low privileges and victim interaction, such as clicking a crafted link or loading a tampered Elementor widget preview.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient input neutralization in client-side JavaScript that handles widget configuration or editor data. User-supplied values are passed to DOM manipulation routines without HTML entity encoding or safe DOM APIs like textContent.
Attack Vector
An authenticated contributor-level or similar low-privilege user supplies crafted input through plugin widgets or settings. When another user, often a higher-privileged editor or administrator, interacts with the affected page or preview, the injected payload executes. Refer to the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26761
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, event handlers (onerror, onload), or javascript: URIs stored in Elementor widget content
- WordPress audit log entries showing low-privilege users modifying widget attributes containing HTML-encoded payloads
- Browser console errors or outbound requests to attacker-controlled domains when loading posts built with the plugin
Detection Strategies
- Inventory WordPress installations and flag any site running Easy Elementor Addons at version 2.1.5 or earlier
- Scan post content and wp_postmeta entries for suspicious HTML, inline JavaScript, or obfuscated payloads tied to plugin shortcodes
- Review web server access logs for anomalous requests to Elementor editor endpoints originating from contributor or author accounts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to capture inline script violations originating from WordPress pages
- Monitor administrator sessions for unexpected cookie exfiltration or privilege-change actions following preview rendering
- Alert on new plugin or user account creation that follows editor activity involving the vulnerable plugin
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26761
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Easy Elementor Addons to a version later than 2.1.5 as soon as the vendor publishes a patched release
- Audit existing posts, templates, and widget configurations for injected scripts and remove malicious content
- Rotate credentials and session tokens for administrators who may have previewed attacker-supplied content
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the vulnerability affects all versions through 2.1.5. Site administrators should monitor the Patchstack advisory and the plugin's WordPress.org listing for a fixed release and apply it promptly.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the Easy Elementor Addons plugin until a patched version is available
- Restrict contributor and author roles from editing content that uses plugin-provided widgets
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set that blocks common XSS payload patterns targeting Elementor endpoints
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and limits script sources to trusted origins
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
