CVE-2025-14278 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the HT Slider for Elementor plugin, a popular WordPress plugin used to create sliders on websites. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically via the 'slide_title' parameter. This parameter is insufficiently sanitized and escaped in JavaScript contexts, allowing an authenticated attacker with Contributor-level or higher privileges to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into slider titles. Because the injected scripts are stored persistently, they execute every time any user accesses the affected page, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including 1.7.4. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacting confidentiality and integrity with a scope change. No patches or fixes have been published at the time of disclosure, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for multi-user WordPress environments where contributors can add or edit content, as it allows them to embed malicious scripts that affect all site visitors or administrators viewing the compromised pages.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites using the HT Slider for Elementor plugin, especially those with multiple content contributors such as media companies, educational institutions, and e-commerce platforms. Exploitation can lead to theft of user credentials, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, defacement, or redirection to phishing or malware sites. This can damage brand reputation, lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, and cause operational disruptions. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access at Contributor level, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts increase risk. The stored nature of the XSS means that even non-authenticated visitors can be affected once the malicious script is injected. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe and the popularity of Elementor-based plugins, the attack surface is considerable. Organizations with high web traffic and sensitive user data are at elevated risk of impact.

1. Immediately restrict Contributor-level privileges to trusted users and review existing contributor accounts for suspicious activity. 2. Monitor all slider titles and other user-generated content for suspicious or unexpected scripts or HTML tags. 3. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting the 'slide_title' parameter. 4. Apply strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected pages. 5. Regularly update the HT Slider for Elementor plugin once the vendor releases a security patch addressing this vulnerability. 6. Conduct security awareness training for content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content. 7. Use security plugins that sanitize user inputs and outputs in WordPress environments. 8. Perform periodic security audits and vulnerability scans focusing on XSS and other injection flaws in web applications.