CVE-2025-6747: Avada Builder XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-6747 Overview

CVE-2025-6747 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin for WordPress. The flaw resides in the plugin's fusion_map shortcode and affects all versions up to and including 3.12.1. Insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied attributes allow authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or above to inject arbitrary JavaScript. The injected scripts execute in the browser of any user who visits an affected page. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation.

Critical Impact
Authenticated contributors can store JavaScript that runs against every visitor of the affected page, enabling session theft, credential harvesting, and administrator account takeover.

Affected Products

Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin for WordPress — all versions through 3.12.1
WordPress sites relying on the fusion_map shortcode
Any site permitting Contributor-level or higher accounts on vulnerable plugin versions

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-16 - CVE-2025-6747 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-6747

Vulnerability Analysis

The Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin exposes a fusion_map shortcode used to embed configurable map elements within WordPress pages and posts. The shortcode accepts user-supplied attributes that are rendered back into the page markup. The plugin fails to properly sanitize incoming attribute values and does not escape them on output. As a result, an attacker with Contributor privileges or higher can craft shortcode attributes containing JavaScript payloads that are stored in post content and later reflected into the DOM when the page is rendered.

Because the payload is stored server-side, every subsequent visitor — including administrators previewing or moderating pending content — triggers execution of the injected script. The scope change flagged in the CVSS vector reflects that scripts execute in the visitor's browser session, extending impact beyond the original vulnerable component.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input sanitization on shortcode attributes combined with absent output escaping when the fusion_map markup is generated. WordPress-native helpers such as sanitize_text_field(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses() are not applied to the affected attribute values before they are echoed into HTML context.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an authenticated account with at least Contributor role. The attacker embeds a malicious fusion_map shortcode inside post or page content, submits it for review, and waits for an editor, administrator, or public visitor to load the page. The stored JavaScript then executes with the privileges of the viewing user, enabling actions such as forced administrative requests, cookie exfiltration, or redirection to attacker-controlled infrastructure. No user interaction beyond visiting the page is required. Refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-6747

Indicators of Compromise

Post or page content containing fusion_map shortcode attributes with <script>, on*=, javascript:, or encoded HTML event handlers.
Unexpected outbound requests from browsers rendering pages built with the Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin.
New or modified WordPress administrator accounts following content publication by Contributor-level users.
Contributor accounts submitting or editing posts that embed map elements outside their normal editorial pattern.

Detection Strategies

Audit the wp_posts table for fusion_map shortcode occurrences and inspect attribute values for script tags or event handlers.
Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that inspect POST bodies to /wp-admin/post.php for suspicious shortcode payloads.
Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to surface inline script execution originating from published pages.
Correlate WordPress audit logs of post creation with subsequent privilege changes or plugin installations.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track the plugin version reported by the Avada (Fusion) Builder against the fixed release listed in the Avada Changelog Documentation.
Monitor authentication logs for Contributor-role accounts and flag anomalous editing activity.
Alert on browser telemetry showing script execution from unexpected domains on pages authored by non-administrative users.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-6747

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin to a version later than 3.12.1 as listed in the vendor changelog.
Review all published and pending posts containing the fusion_map shortcode and remove any suspicious attribute values.
Rotate credentials and session tokens for administrator accounts that may have viewed injected pages.
Restrict Contributor-level account creation and audit the current list of low-privilege accounts.

Patch Information

ThemeFusion has issued a patched release of the Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin that adds sanitization and output escaping to the fusion_map shortcode attributes. Site administrators should consult the Avada Changelog Documentation for the exact fixed version and apply the update through the WordPress plugin manager.

Workarounds

Temporarily disable the Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin until the patched version is applied.
Remove or restrict the fusion_map shortcode using a remove_shortcode('fusion_map') call in a custom must-use plugin.
Downgrade Contributor accounts to Subscriber until the plugin is updated to prevent shortcode injection.
Deploy a WAF rule blocking <script> and event-handler patterns within shortcode attribute submissions.

bash

# Configuration example
# Verify installed Avada (Fusion) Builder version via WP-CLI
wp plugin get fusion-builder --field=version

# Update the plugin to the latest available release
wp plugin update fusion-builder

# Audit posts for suspicious fusion_map shortcode usage
wp db query "SELECT ID, post_title FROM wp_posts WHERE post_content LIKE '%[fusion_map%' AND (post_content LIKE '%<script%' OR post_content LIKE '%javascript:%' OR post_content LIKE '%onerror=%');"