CVE-2025-46235 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the SKT Blocks – Gutenberg based Page Builder developed by sonalsinha21. This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing malicious scripts to be injected and stored within the application. When a user accesses the affected page, the malicious script executes in their browser context. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including version 2.0 of the SKT Blocks plugin. Since SKT Blocks is a Gutenberg-based page builder plugin for WordPress, it is primarily used to create and manage content on WordPress websites. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because the malicious payload is permanently stored on the target server, often in a database, and served to any user visiting the compromised page. This can lead to session hijacking, defacement, redirection to malicious sites, or theft of sensitive user data. The vulnerability does not currently have any known exploits in the wild, and no official patches or updates have been released as of the publication date (April 22, 2025). The issue was identified and reserved by Patchstack and enriched by CISA, indicating recognition by authoritative cybersecurity entities. Exploitation typically requires an attacker to have the ability to inject malicious content into the page builder interface, which may be possible if the attacker has contributor-level access or if the plugin allows untrusted user input without proper sanitization. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user data and can affect availability indirectly if exploited to perform further attacks such as defacement or malware distribution.

For European organizations using WordPress websites with the SKT Blocks – Gutenberg based Page Builder plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to web application security. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized execution of scripts in the browsers of site visitors or administrators, potentially resulting in credential theft, session hijacking, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of legitimate users. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, and cause operational disruptions. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe, especially among small and medium enterprises and public sector websites, the impact could be broad. Attackers may target high-profile European organizations that rely on this plugin for content management, including government portals, educational institutions, and e-commerce platforms. The stored nature of the XSS increases the risk of persistent attacks affecting multiple users over time. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks, such as delivering malware or phishing campaigns, amplifying the overall threat to European digital infrastructure.

1. Immediate mitigation involves disabling or uninstalling the SKT Blocks – Gutenberg based Page Builder plugin until a security patch is released. 2. If disabling is not feasible, restrict plugin access strictly to trusted administrators and editors to minimize the risk of malicious input injection. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically designed to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting the plugin’s input fields. 4. Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the plugin’s configuration and content areas, ideally by applying custom filters or using security plugins that enforce sanitization. 5. Monitor website logs and user activity for unusual behavior indicative of attempted exploitation, such as unexpected script injections or anomalous user actions. 6. Educate content editors and administrators about the risks of inserting untrusted HTML or scripts into page builder fields. 7. Regularly back up website data to enable quick restoration in case of compromise. 8. Stay informed about updates from the plugin vendor and apply patches promptly once available. 9. Consider deploying Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected websites, reducing the impact of potential XSS payloads.