CVE-2025-48288 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the ElementInvader Addons for Elementor plugin, versions up to and including 1.3.5. This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing malicious scripts to be injected and stored within the plugin's data. When a victim accesses the affected page, the malicious script executes in their browser context. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L) shows that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires privileges (authenticated user), and user interaction (such as clicking a link) is needed. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent, as the attacker can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the affected site, potentially stealing session tokens, defacing content, or performing actions on behalf of the user. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects components beyond the vulnerable component itself. No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, and no patches are currently linked, indicating that remediation may still be pending or in progress. This vulnerability specifically targets WordPress sites using the ElementInvader Addons for Elementor plugin, a popular page builder extension, which is widely used for creating rich web content.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially for those relying on WordPress websites with the Elementor page builder and the ElementInvader Addons plugin. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, data leakage, defacement of websites, and potential phishing attacks targeting site visitors or internal users. This can damage brand reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR breaches if personal data is exposed), and cause operational disruptions. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and government, which often use WordPress for public-facing sites, are particularly vulnerable. The stored nature of the XSS means that once injected, the malicious payload persists, increasing the risk of repeated exploitation. Given the requirement for authenticated access, insider threats or compromised user accounts could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability, amplifying the risk within organizations.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting user privileges to the minimum necessary, especially limiting access to users who can input content via the ElementInvader Addons plugin. 2. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the plugin to neutralize malicious scripts. 3. Monitor and audit user-generated content for suspicious scripts or payloads. 4. Disable or remove the ElementInvader Addons plugin if it is not essential until a security patch is released. 5. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting common XSS payloads to provide an additional layer of defense. 6. Educate users and administrators about phishing and social engineering risks associated with XSS attacks. 7. Once available, promptly apply vendor patches or updates addressing this vulnerability. 8. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on web application vulnerabilities, including stored XSS.