CVE-2025-68532 is a stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the ModelTheme Addons for WPBakery and Elementor WordPress plugins, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.5.6. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during the generation of web pages, allowing malicious scripts to be stored persistently on the affected website. When a victim user visits the compromised page, the malicious script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The attack vector is remote over the network, with low attack complexity, but requires the attacker to have low-level privileges (PR:L) and for the victim to interact with the malicious content (UI:R). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity but does not affect availability. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the stored XSS nature makes it a persistent threat once exploited. The lack of a patch link indicates that users should monitor vendor communications closely for updates. The vulnerability is cataloged with a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.4, indicating medium severity. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for websites using the ModelTheme Addons plugin with WPBakery or Elementor page builders, which are popular in WordPress environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to compromise site visitors or administrators, potentially leading to broader attacks within an organization’s web infrastructure.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-68532 can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress sites using WPBakery or Elementor with ModelTheme Addons. Stored XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of users’ browsers, risking theft of session cookies, user credentials, or the ability to perform unauthorized actions. This can lead to data breaches, defacement of websites, loss of customer trust, and potential regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is compromised. Since many European businesses use WordPress for their public-facing websites and intranet portals, exploitation could disrupt business operations and damage reputations. The requirement for low privileges and user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the risk. Although availability is not directly impacted, the indirect effects of compromised integrity and confidentiality can be costly. The vulnerability’s scope change means that attackers might leverage it to affect other components or users beyond the initial target, amplifying the risk. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and government are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and regulatory scrutiny.

1. Monitor official ModelTheme and WordPress plugin sources for the release of version 1.5.6 or later and apply updates promptly to eliminate the vulnerability. 2. Until patches are available, implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting the affected plugin components. 3. Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the website, especially in areas managed by ModelTheme Addons, to prevent malicious script injection. 4. Limit user privileges to the minimum necessary, reducing the risk that low-privilege users can inject malicious content. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or interacting with untrusted content on the affected sites. 6. Regularly audit website content and logs for unusual or unauthorized changes indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 8. Consider isolating or sandboxing critical web components to limit the impact of potential XSS attacks. 9. Use security plugins that can detect and remediate XSS vulnerabilities in WordPress environments. 10. Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing web application attacks to quickly contain and remediate any exploitation.