CVE-2025-32186 Overview
CVE-2025-32186 is a DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Turbo Addons for Elementor WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation [CWE-79]. All versions from initial release through 1.7.7 are affected. Successful exploitation requires an authenticated user with low privileges and user interaction, but the scope is changed, meaning the impact extends to components beyond the vulnerable one. Attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors or administrators, leading to session theft, credential harvesting, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can inject client-side scripts that execute in victims' browsers, enabling account takeover and content manipulation across the WordPress site.
Affected Products
- Turbo Addons for Elementor (turbo-addons-elementor) WordPress plugin
- All versions from initial release through 1.7.7
- WordPress installations using the vulnerable plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-04 - CVE CVE-2025-32186 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-32186
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a DOM-based XSS flaw in the Turbo Addons for Elementor plugin. DOM-based XSS occurs when client-side JavaScript processes attacker-controlled input and writes it back into the Document Object Model (DOM) without proper sanitization or encoding. Unlike reflected or stored XSS, the malicious payload never reaches the server in its executed form. Instead, the vulnerable JavaScript reads data from an attacker-controllable source such as document.location, document.URL, or window.name, and passes it to a dangerous sink like innerHTML, document.write, or eval.
The issue affects Elementor page builder integrations, which typically render dynamic widgets and shortcodes on the client side. When user-supplied parameters flow into these rendering routines without escaping, the browser interprets the injected markup as executable script.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing output encoding in client-side rendering logic. The plugin accepts input that becomes part of DOM manipulation operations, but does not apply context-appropriate sanitization such as textContent assignment or HTML entity encoding before insertion.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires an authenticated user with contributor-level or similar low privileges and user interaction, such as clicking a crafted link or visiting a page containing malicious widget configuration. The changed scope indicates that injected scripts execute in the security context of other users, including administrators viewing the affected content. Refer to the Patchstack advisory for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-32186
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, event handlers, or javascript: URIs stored in Elementor widget configurations or post metadata
- WordPress user accounts with elevated privileges created outside normal administrative activity
- Outbound HTTP requests from administrator browsers to unfamiliar domains shortly after viewing plugin-rendered pages
- Modified plugin or theme files with obfuscated JavaScript payloads
Detection Strategies
- Inspect Elementor page data and wp_postmeta entries for HTML fragments containing script tags or inline event handlers
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with XSS rules tuned for WordPress plugin parameters
- Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers in report-only mode to identify inline script executions
- Correlate contributor and author account activity with subsequent administrator session anomalies
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor WordPress access logs for requests to plugin endpoints containing encoded HTML or script payloads
- Track privilege changes and new user creation events in wp_users and wp_usermeta
- Log and review browser CSP violation reports from admin dashboard sessions
- Alert on file integrity changes to plugin directories under wp-content/plugins/turbo-addons-elementor/
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-32186
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Turbo Addons for Elementor to a version later than 1.7.7 once the vendor publishes a patched release
- Audit existing Elementor pages and widget configurations for injected script content
- Restrict contributor and author role assignments to trusted users only
- Force password resets for administrator accounts that have accessed pages built with the vulnerable plugin
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no fixed version is confirmed in the NVD entry. The vulnerability affects all versions through 1.7.7. Monitor the Patchstack advisory and the plugin's WordPress.org repository for patch availability. The current EPSS score is 0.392%.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the Turbo Addons for Elementor plugin until a patched version is available
- Deploy a WAF rule set that filters XSS payloads targeting Elementor widget parameters
- Implement a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources
- Limit editing capabilities to trusted administrators and revoke unnecessary contributor accounts
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.