CVE-2025-9978 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79 affecting the Jeg Kit for Elementor WordPress plugin prior to version 2.7.0. The vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of SVG file contents uploaded through the xmlrpc.php endpoint, a WordPress remote procedure call interface commonly used for remote content management. SVG files can contain embedded scripts, and failure to sanitize these allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code. This can lead to execution of arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim’s browser, potentially enabling session hijacking, defacement, or further exploitation such as privilege escalation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.8, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring high privileges (PR:H) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to WordPress sites using this plugin version, especially those exposing xmlrpc.php. The plugin’s failure to sanitize SVG uploads is a critical oversight given the common use of SVGs in web design and the potential for script embedding. The vulnerability was reserved in early September 2025 and published in late October 2025. No official patch links were provided, but upgrading to Jeg Kit 2.7.0 or later is implied as the remediation. Disabling or restricting access to xmlrpc.php can also mitigate exploitation risk.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, particularly for those relying on WordPress sites with the Jeg Kit for Elementor plugin prior to version 2.7.0. Successful exploitation can lead to theft of user credentials, session hijacking, unauthorized content modification, and potential site defacement. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected web assets. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, media, and education that use WordPress extensively may face reputational damage, data breaches, and operational disruptions. Given the medium severity and requirement for authenticated access, the threat is more pronounced in environments where multiple users have elevated privileges or where xmlrpc.php is exposed to the internet. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the risk of insufficient input validation in third-party plugins, a common attack vector in WordPress ecosystems.

1. Immediately upgrade the Jeg Kit for Elementor plugin to version 2.7.0 or later where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Disable the xmlrpc.php interface if it is not required for remote content management or integrations. This can be done via server configuration or WordPress security plugins. 3. If xmlrpc.php must remain enabled, restrict access to it using IP whitelisting or authentication mechanisms to limit exposure. 4. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources. 5. Regularly audit and sanitize all user-uploaded content, especially SVG files, to ensure no embedded scripts are present. 6. Monitor web server logs for unusual activity targeting xmlrpc.php or SVG uploads. 7. Educate site administrators about the risks of uploading untrusted SVG files and the importance of plugin updates. 8. Employ a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block malicious payloads in SVG uploads and xmlrpc.php requests. 9. Conduct periodic vulnerability scans and penetration tests focusing on WordPress plugins and upload functionalities.