CVE-2025-48244: Exclusive Addons Elementor XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-48244 Overview

CVE-2025-48244 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Exclusive Addons Elementor plugin for WordPress, developed by Tim Strifler. The flaw affects all versions from initial release through 2.7.9. The vulnerability results from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, classified under [CWE-79]. Authenticated users with elevated privileges can inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected pages. The issue was published to the National Vulnerability Database on May 19, 2025.

Critical Impact
Stored XSS enables persistent script execution in victim browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized administrative actions within WordPress sites running vulnerable plugin versions.

Affected Products

Exclusive Addons Elementor plugin (exclusive-addons-for-elementor)
All versions from initial release through 2.7.9
WordPress sites using the plugin developed by Tim Strifler

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-19 - CVE-2025-48244 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-48244

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in how the Exclusive Addons Elementor plugin processes user-supplied input when generating web page content. Input passed through plugin widgets or configuration fields is stored without adequate sanitization or output encoding. When the affected page is rendered, the injected payload executes in the browser context of any user viewing the page.

Stored XSS differs from reflected XSS because the payload persists in the WordPress database. Every subsequent page load re-executes the malicious script, expanding the attack surface across all visitors and authenticated users.

Exploitation requires an authenticated attacker with high privileges and user interaction to trigger the injection. However, once injected, the payload can target site administrators, harvest session cookies, or perform actions through the victim's authenticated session.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation [CWE-79]. The plugin fails to apply appropriate sanitization functions such as wp_kses() on input storage or escaping functions such as esc_html() and esc_attr() on output. This allows HTML and JavaScript payloads to survive intact from the storage layer to the browser rendering layer.

Attack Vector

An attacker with authenticated access to the WordPress admin interface, such as an editor or contributor role with plugin access, injects a malicious payload through one of the plugin's widget fields. The payload is stored in the WordPress database as part of the page or post content. When another user, typically an administrator or site visitor, loads the affected page, the browser parses and executes the injected script.

The scope changes at the browser level, meaning the injected script can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component's original security context. Consult the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Report for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48244

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected <script> tags, javascript: URIs, or event handler attributes (onerror, onload) stored within WordPress post content or plugin configuration entries
Outbound requests from site visitors' browsers to unfamiliar domains coinciding with page loads of Elementor-built pages
New or modified administrative accounts created shortly after admin users visit affected pages
Session cookies exfiltrated in web server or WAF logs referencing plugin-rendered URLs

Detection Strategies

Inventory all WordPress installations and identify sites running exclusive-addons-for-elementor at version 2.7.9 or earlier
Audit database tables (wp_posts, wp_postmeta, wp_options) for stored HTML payloads containing script tags or JavaScript event handlers within Elementor widget data
Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to capture blocked inline script execution attempts
Review WordPress user activity logs for suspicious editing behavior from lower-privileged accounts targeting pages viewed by administrators

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress security plugins that monitor plugin file integrity and detect unauthorized content modifications
Forward WordPress and web server logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation of authentication events and page edits
Alert on privileged user session anomalies such as unexpected administrative API calls following page views
Monitor for new administrative user creation, role escalations, and plugin installations following the disclosure date

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48244

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress sites running Exclusive Addons Elementor and confirm the installed version
Update the plugin to a version above 2.7.9 as soon as a patched release is available from the vendor
Review user roles and revoke plugin editing privileges from accounts that do not require them
Audit existing Elementor pages for injected content and remove any suspicious HTML or JavaScript stored in widget fields

Patch Information

The vulnerability affects Exclusive Addons Elementor versions through 2.7.9. Site administrators should consult the Patchstack advisory for the latest patched version and update through the WordPress plugin manager once available.

Workarounds

Temporarily deactivate the Exclusive Addons Elementor plugin until a patched version is installed
Restrict plugin configuration access to trusted administrator accounts only, removing editing permissions from lower-privileged roles
Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with rules that block XSS payloads targeting Elementor widget endpoints
Implement a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline JavaScript execution on WordPress-rendered pages

bash

# Example WordPress-CLI commands to identify and disable the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin list --name=exclusive-addons-for-elementor --fields=name,status,version
wp plugin deactivate exclusive-addons-for-elementor
wp plugin update exclusive-addons-for-elementor