CVE-2025-7439: Anber Elementor Addon XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-7439 Overview

CVE-2025-7439 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Anber Elementor Addon plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.0.1. It resides in the handling of the $anber_item['button_link']['url'] parameter, where insufficient input sanitization and output escaping allow authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript. Injected scripts execute in the browser of any visitor who loads an affected page. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-79.

Critical Impact
Authenticated contributors can persist JavaScript payloads that execute against site visitors and administrators, enabling session theft, account takeover, and administrative actions performed under a victim's context.

Affected Products

Anber Elementor Addon plugin for WordPress — all versions through 1.0.1
WordPress sites permitting Contributor-level user registration
WordPress installations using the Elementor page builder with this addon

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-16 - CVE-2025-7439 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7439

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a stored XSS flaw in the Anber Elementor Addon plugin. The plugin accepts a URL value through the button_link field of an anber_item structure. This value is stored in the WordPress database and later rendered into page output without adequate sanitization or escaping.

Because the parameter is treated as a trusted URL, an attacker can supply a javascript: scheme payload or embed script content that survives storage and is emitted into the DOM. Any authenticated user with Contributor privileges or above can perform the injection. Execution occurs whenever a page containing the malicious widget is rendered in a browser.

The stored nature of the flaw makes it more impactful than reflected XSS. A single injection persists until removed and can target administrators who preview or edit contributor-submitted content.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input sanitization on write and missing output escaping on read for the button_link.url property. WordPress provides esc_url() and esc_url_raw() helpers for this exact use case, but the plugin does not apply them consistently. The Contributor role, by design, can create draft content, which places attacker-controlled data into the rendering path of higher-privileged reviewers.

Attack Vector

An attacker authenticates to the target WordPress site with at least Contributor access. Using the Elementor editor, the attacker adds an Anber widget and populates the button link URL field with a malicious payload such as a javascript: URI or an HTML-breaking string containing a <script> tag. The payload is stored in post metadata. When an administrator previews the draft, or the post is published and viewed, the script executes in the victim's session and can perform actions permitted by that session, including creating new administrator accounts through the WordPress REST API.

No verified public exploit code is available. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7439

Indicators of Compromise

Post meta records containing button_link URL values with javascript:, data:, or embedded <script> or on*= handler content
Unexpected administrator or editor accounts created shortly after a contributor submitted or updated content
Outbound requests from browser sessions of logged-in editors to unfamiliar domains after loading contributor drafts

Detection Strategies

Query the wp_postmeta table for Elementor data blobs referencing the Anber widget and filter for URL fields not beginning with http:// or https://
Review web server logs for POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and /wp-json/ endpoints from Contributor accounts that immediately precede administrative actions
Monitor for new user creation, role changes, or plugin installations that follow admin sessions viewing contributor-authored posts

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress audit logging to record post revisions, user role changes, and plugin activity
Forward web server and WordPress application logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation across authentication and content events
Alert on any Contributor account whose submitted content contains HTML event handlers or non-standard URI schemes in link fields

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7439

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Anber Elementor Addon plugin to a version later than 1.0.1 once the vendor releases a patched build, or deactivate and remove the plugin
Audit existing posts and post metadata for malicious payloads in button_link URL fields and remove any injected content
Restrict Contributor-level registration and review pending contributor drafts before administrators preview them in an authenticated browser session

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the WordPress plugin listing should be checked for a fixed release above version 1.0.1. Confirm the changelog references remediation of the stored XSS issue tracked by CVE-2025-7439 before deploying.

Workarounds

Remove or deactivate the Anber Elementor Addon plugin until a fixed release is available and verified
Downgrade untrusted contributor accounts or require editorial review workflows outside the WordPress admin preview surface
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that blocks javascript: schemes and script tag patterns in Elementor widget save requests

bash

# Example WAF rule fragment blocking javascript: URIs in Elementor save requests
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@rx /wp-admin/admin-ajax\.php" \
  "chain,phase:2,deny,status:403,id:1007439,msg:'Block javascript: URI in Elementor payload (CVE-2025-7439)'"
  SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(javascript:|<script|onerror=|onload=)" "t:none,t:urlDecodeUni"