CVE-2025-9698 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in The Plus Addons for Elementor WordPress plugin, affecting all versions prior to 6.3.16. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize SVG file contents uploaded by users. SVG files can contain embedded scripts or malicious payloads, and without proper sanitization, these scripts can be stored and later executed in the context of the website. The exploit requires an attacker to have at least Author-level access, which is a relatively low privilege level in WordPress, allowing content creation but not full administrative control. Once exploited, the attacker can execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of users visiting the affected site, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, data theft, or further compromise of the site. The CVSS v3.1 vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), high privileges required (PR:H), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Elementor and its addons in WordPress sites globally. The vulnerability was published on October 13, 2025, and assigned by WPScan. The lack of patch links in the provided data suggests that users should verify plugin updates directly from official sources. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input leading to XSS attacks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to severe consequences including unauthorized access to sensitive data, website defacement, and potential malware distribution through compromised sites. Organizations relying on WordPress with The Plus Addons for Elementor, especially those with multiple content authors, are at risk of internal threat actors or compromised Author accounts exploiting this flaw. The impact extends to loss of customer trust, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR breaches due to data exposure), and operational disruptions. Since the vulnerability allows script execution in users' browsers, it can facilitate phishing attacks or spread malware to site visitors. The medium severity score reflects the need for attention but also the requirement of authenticated access and user interaction, somewhat limiting remote exploitation. However, the widespread use of WordPress in Europe, including in government, education, and commerce sectors, increases the potential attack surface and impact.

European organizations should immediately verify the version of The Plus Addons for Elementor plugin in use and upgrade to version 6.3.16 or later where this vulnerability is fixed. If upgrading is not immediately possible, restrict the Author role capabilities to prevent SVG file uploads or disable SVG uploads entirely. Implement strict content security policies (CSP) to limit script execution from untrusted sources. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual SVG uploads or script execution attempts. Employ web application firewalls (WAF) with rules targeting XSS payloads in SVG files. Conduct regular security audits of user roles and permissions to minimize the risk of privilege abuse. Educate content authors about the risks of uploading untrusted files and enforce multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of account compromise. Finally, maintain an incident response plan to quickly address any detected exploitation attempts.