CVE-2025-8196 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Magical Addons For Elementor WordPress plugin, specifically versions up to and including 1.3.8. This plugin, developed by nalam-1, provides additional widgets and templates for the Elementor page builder, including header and footer builders. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), where user-supplied custom attributes are not sufficiently sanitized or escaped before being stored and rendered on pages. An authenticated attacker with contributor-level or higher privileges can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious JavaScript payloads into the plugin's custom attributes. These scripts are then stored persistently and executed in the browsers of any users who visit the affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or other malicious activities. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges (low), no user interaction, and a scope change with limited confidentiality and integrity impact but no availability impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. This vulnerability is significant because it leverages the trusted context of a legitimate WordPress plugin widely used in website customization, making it a vector for persistent client-side attacks within the site’s user base or administrators.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Magical Addons For Elementor plugin, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Exploitation could allow attackers with contributor-level access to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors or administrators, potentially leading to theft of authentication cookies, defacement, or unauthorized actions performed with the victim’s privileges. This can undermine the confidentiality and integrity of the website and its users’ data. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe for corporate, governmental, and e-commerce websites, exploitation could damage brand reputation, lead to data breaches, and cause regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The requirement for contributor-level access limits the attack surface but insider threats or compromised accounts could be leveraged. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk of automated exploitation once an attacker has access. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially impacting multiple pages or users.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of the Magical Addons For Elementor plugin. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider the following mitigations: 1) Restrict contributor-level and higher privileges strictly to trusted users and review user roles and permissions to minimize risk. 2) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns related to custom attributes in Elementor pages. 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of XSS payloads. 4) Monitor logs and user activity for unusual modifications to page content or custom attributes. 5) Educate site administrators and contributors about the risk and encourage strong authentication practices, including multi-factor authentication, to reduce account compromise risk. 6) Once available, promptly apply official patches or updates from the plugin vendor. 7) Consider temporarily disabling or removing the plugin if it is not critical to operations until a fix is available.