CVE-2025-11220 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability classified under CWE-79 affecting the Elementor Website Builder plugin for WordPress, specifically in the Text Path widget. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of user-supplied input used to generate SVG markup, allowing malicious scripts to be embedded persistently within pages. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or above can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into the SVG elements rendered by the widget. When any user accesses the compromised page, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, privilege escalation, or defacement. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting medium severity, with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality and integrity with a scope change. No patches or official fixes have been published as of the vulnerability disclosure date (December 16, 2025), and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 3.33.3, which is widely deployed given Elementor's popularity as a WordPress page builder. The vulnerability's exploitation requires authenticated access, limiting exposure to users with at least contributor roles, but the persistent nature of the XSS increases risk to all site visitors. This vulnerability underscores the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, especially those generating complex markup like SVG. Organizations using Elementor should monitor for suspicious content injections and prepare to deploy patches promptly once available.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks to websites built with Elementor, which is one of the most popular WordPress page builders in Europe. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized script execution in users' browsers, resulting in session hijacking, theft of sensitive data, defacement of websites, and potential spread of malware. The requirement for contributor-level access reduces the risk from external attackers but elevates the threat from insider threats or compromised accounts. Given the widespread use of WordPress and Elementor in sectors such as e-commerce, media, and government, successful exploitation could damage brand reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR breaches due to data exposure), and disrupt business operations. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that once injected, malicious scripts can affect all visitors until the vulnerability is remediated, amplifying the potential impact. Additionally, the scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component, increasing the attack surface. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the medium severity score and ease of exploitation by authenticated users necessitate urgent attention.

1. Immediately audit and restrict contributor-level and higher user accounts to trusted personnel only, implementing strict access controls and multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of account compromise. 2. Monitor website content, especially SVG elements generated by the Text Path widget, for suspicious or unexpected script injections using web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules targeting SVG script tags or event handlers. 3. Disable or remove the Text Path widget from Elementor pages if it is not essential, reducing the attack surface. 4. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and limit the domains from which scripts can be loaded, mitigating the impact of injected scripts. 5. Regularly back up website content and maintain an incident response plan to quickly restore clean versions in case of compromise. 6. Stay informed about official patches or updates from Elementor and apply them promptly once released. 7. Conduct security awareness training for content contributors to recognize phishing and social engineering attempts that could lead to account compromise. 8. Employ security plugins that scan for malicious code injections and anomalous changes in WordPress content. These specific steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, content monitoring, and configuration hardening tailored to this vulnerability.