CVE-2025-57999: WPKoi Templates Elementor XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-57999 Overview

CVE-2025-57999 is a DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WPKoi Templates for Elementor WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 3.4.3. It stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation [CWE-79]. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can inject malicious script content that executes in a victim's browser after user interaction. Because the vulnerability crosses a security scope boundary, successful exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser session, leading to session compromise, content manipulation, and potential lateral movement within the WordPress site.

Affected Products

WPKoi Templates for Elementor plugin (wpkoi-templates-for-elementor)
All versions from initial release through 3.4.3
WordPress sites running the plugin with Elementor page builder

Discovery Timeline

2025-09-22 - CVE-2025-57999 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-57999

Vulnerability Analysis

The WPKoi Templates for Elementor plugin fails to properly sanitize user-controlled input before it is written to the Document Object Model (DOM). This produces a DOM-based XSS condition where client-side JavaScript in the plugin processes attacker-controlled data and inserts it into the page without adequate encoding. The vulnerability requires low-level authentication and user interaction to trigger. Successful exploitation results in arbitrary script execution in the context of the affected site, giving attackers the ability to read session data, forge requests on behalf of the victim, or deface plugin-rendered content.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient output encoding in client-side code paths that render dynamic content. Data flowing from attacker-influenced sources reaches DOM sinks such as innerHTML, document.write, or jQuery HTML manipulation methods without contextual escaping. The Patchstack advisory categorizes this as an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation issue tracked under [CWE-79].

Attack Vector

An attacker with a low-privilege authenticated account, such as a contributor or subscriber depending on plugin configuration, injects a crafted payload into a field processed by the vulnerable plugin. When an administrator or another user loads the affected page and interacts with the rendered content, the injected script executes in their browser. Because the scope changes on exploitation, the payload can act against resources outside the plugin's own security boundary, including administrator sessions. Technical details are documented in the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been released. The vulnerability is described in prose based on the Patchstack advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-57999

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected <script> tags, javascript: URIs, or event-handler attributes stored in plugin-managed post meta or options tables
Outbound HTTP requests from administrator browsers to unknown domains shortly after loading pages rendered by WPKoi Templates for Elementor
Creation of new administrative WordPress accounts or modification of user roles without corresponding audit trail
Session cookies for the WordPress site appearing in web server referrer logs from external hosts

Detection Strategies

Inspect the WordPress wp_posts, wp_postmeta, and wp_options tables for suspicious HTML or JavaScript content associated with WPKoi templates
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules that identify XSS payloads targeting Elementor and WPKoi endpoints
Enable a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) and monitor report-uri submissions for policy violations originating from plugin-rendered pages
Correlate authenticated user activity with page rendering events to identify anomalous script execution

Monitoring Recommendations

Log and review all contributor and subscriber content submissions for HTML markup or encoded script content
Alert on modifications to plugin-managed data by non-administrative accounts
Monitor administrator browser sessions for unexpected DOM mutations on pages that embed WPKoi templates

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-57999

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress installations running WPKoi Templates for Elementor version 3.4.3 or earlier
Restrict content submission privileges for untrusted accounts until a patched version is confirmed installed
Audit stored plugin content for injected scripts and remove any malicious payloads
Rotate administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if compromise is suspected

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the Patchstack advisory lists affected versions as n/a through <= 3.4.3 with no fixed version confirmed. Site operators should monitor the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report and the plugin's WordPress.org page for an updated release, and apply it as soon as it becomes available.

Workarounds

Deactivate and remove the WPKoi Templates for Elementor plugin until a fixed version is released
Deploy a WAF ruleset that filters XSS payloads on WordPress admin and front-end request paths
Apply a restrictive Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and unauthorized external script sources
Limit low-privilege accounts from creating or editing content rendered by the affected plugin

bash

# Example restrictive Content Security Policy header for WordPress (nginx)
add_header Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'self'; frame-ancestors 'self'; report-uri /csp-report" always;