プラグイン名	ElementInvader Addons for Elementor
Type of Vulnerability	クロスサイトスクリプティング (XSS)
CVE Number	CVE-2025-58205
緊急	低い
CVE Publish Date	2025-08-27
Source URL	CVE-2025-58205

ElementInvader Addons for Elementor (<= 1.3.6) — XSS Vulnerability Explained, Risks, and What You Should Do Today

公開日: 27 August 2025
CVE: CVE-2025-58205
Affected plugin: ElementInvader Addons for Elementor (WordPress plugin)
脆弱なバージョン: <= 1.3.6
修正されたバージョン: 1.3.7
CVSS (reported): 6.5 (medium/low depending on context)
Reported by: Abu Hurayra

As a WordPress security team building and maintaining a professional Web Application Firewall (WP-Firewall), we want to give you an actionable, plain-English analysis of this issue—what it means for your site, how attackers might exploit it, immediate steps to reduce risk, and long-term hardening recommendations. If you run ElementInvader Addons for Elementor on any site, treat this as a priority item: patch or mitigate quickly.

Below you’ll find a technical explanation written for site owners, developers, and administrators, plus practical mitigation steps you can implement immediately.

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Quick summary for busy site owners

• The plugin ElementInvader Addons for Elementor up to and including version 1.3.6 contains a Cross‑Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability (CVE-2025-58205).
• Attackers able to supply or modify widget/content fields that the plugin later outputs without proper escaping could inject JavaScript that executes in visitors’ browsers.
• The vulnerability was fixed in version 1.3.7. The most reliable mitigation is to update the plugin to 1.3.7 or later.
• If you cannot update immediately, apply compensating controls: disable or restrict the vulnerable plugin, restrict user roles and uploads, deploy a WAF rule or virtual patch, and apply Content Security Policy (CSP) mitigation.
• This vulnerability has a reported CVSS score of 6.5. While not trivially exploitable in all environments, it can be highly damaging when it is exploitable (session theft, privilege escalation, site defacement, SEO spam, phishing).

We’ll explain why and how, then walk through immediate and longer-term steps.

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What is XSS and why it matters for WordPress plugins

Cross‑Site Scripting (XSS) is a class of vulnerability where an application includes untrusted data in web pages without proper validation and escaping, allowing an attacker to cause a victim’s browser to run attacker-controlled JavaScript.

In a WordPress context, the impact of successful XSS ranges from nuisance (displaying unwanted content) to severe:

• Stealing cookies, authentication tokens, or data accessible in the browser.
• Performing actions on behalf of logged-in administrators via JavaScript (CSRF + XSS).
• Injecting backdoors or malicious content into posts, widgets, or site templates.
• Redirecting visitors to phishing or malware sites, harming your reputation and SEO.
• Embedding cryptomining scripts or ad fraud.

Not all XSS vulnerabilities are equal. Some require low privileges (any visitor), others require an account with a specific role (e.g., Contributor). CVE-2025-58205 was reported as requiring Contributor privileges—this changes risk modeling, but does not remove urgency. Sites that allow user registrations, use third-party editors, or accept content from external contributors are at higher risk.

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What we know about CVE-2025-58205 (ElementInvader Addons for Elementor)

From the published advisory and CVE record, key points:

• Plugin: ElementInvader Addons for Elementor
• Vulnerable versions: <= 1.3.6
• Fixed in: 1.3.7
• Type: Cross‑Site Scripting (XSS), classified under injection (OWASP A3)
• Privilege required: Contributor (some level of user access is required to inject the payload)
• CVSS score: 6.5 as reported (this maps to medium / low severity depending on environment)
• Reported/published: July–August 2025

The vulnerability arises when data supplied by a contributor (or other permitted role) is stored or reflected by the plugin and then rendered into pages without proper output escaping or sanitization. That rendering allows injected JavaScript to run in visitors’ browsers.

Although this requires some level of user access, many sites allow new users, form uploads, or editors that include third-party contributions. Even when the site only grants contributor roles to trusted people, accounts can be compromised.

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Realistic attack scenarios

To understand the possible impact, here are plausible attack vectors and outcomes:

1. Compromised contributor account
   An attacker obtains a contributor account via credential stuffing, phishing, or by exploiting weak or reused passwords. They then edit or upload content through functionality provided by the vulnerable plugin, inserting JavaScript payloads that will execute when visitors view the pages.
2. Malicious third-party content contributors
   If your site accepts content from external writers or guest contributors, an attacker could register as a contributor and submit content containing malicious scripts.
3. Social engineering of editors
   An attacker convinces a legitimate contributor to paste content (HTML snippets) into an editor field that the plugin then renders without escaping.
4. Stored XSS leading to privilege escalation
   If an injected payload runs in an administrator’s browser while they manage the site, it could perform administrative actions silently (create admin accounts, modify plugin code, exfiltrate tokens).
5. SEO spam, redirects, and phishing
   Scripts injected via XSS can insert hidden links, redirects, or display fake login forms to harvest credentials.

Even though the initial requirement is “Contributor”, if a site allows self-registration or weak controls on who becomes a contributor, the barrier to exploitation may be low.

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How to confirm whether your site is affected

1. Check plugin version(s): go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and confirm if ElementInvader Addons for Elementor is installed and its version is <= 1.3.6.
2. If present, check whether the plugin is active on any pages or if it includes any widgets that can be edited by contributors or other roles.
3. Search the site for suspicious content patterns: script tags (<script>), suspicious base64, javascript: URIs, or known obfuscation patterns. Use wp-cli or search through the database:

   wp db query "SELECT ID, post_title FROM wp_posts WHERE post_content LIKE '%<script%';"

   Search options and widget contents as well; some plugins store content in options or postmeta.

4. Inspect user registration settings and the number of contributors. Go to Settings > General > Membership to see if “Anyone can register” is enabled and check the default role.
5. Review logs for unusual admin logins and suspicious changes around the time the plugin was updated/published.

Note: Presence of the plugin in your filesystem or database does not automatically mean exploitation occurred—only that you might be at risk.

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Immediate steps (first 60–120 minutes)

If ElementInvader Addons for Elementor (<=1.3.6) is present on your site:

1. Patch now
   Update the plugin to version 1.3.7 or later immediately. This is the single best fix.
2. If you cannot update immediately, disable the plugin
   Deactivate the plugin temporarily if an update is not available for your environment or you need to test compatibility.
3. Restrict user permissions
   Remove or suspend contributor accounts that are untrusted. Change default registration role to Subscriber if it’s set to Contributor. Require admin approval for new users.
4. Force password resets for higher‑risk accounts
   Require password reset for admins and editors. Consider resetting contributor passwords if you suspect compromise.
5. Enable 2‑factor authentication (2FA) for admin/editor accounts
   2FA increases resiliency against credential-based account takeover.
6. Deploy a WAF/virtual patch
   If you manage a WAF (like WP-Firewall), enable or apply a mitigation rule for payload patterns associated with XSS in this plugin. Virtual patching can block typical exploit payloads until the plugin is updated.
7. Scan for active malicious content
   Run a site scan for injected scripts, modifications in plugin files, unknown admin users, and suspicious posts or options.
8. Add temporary Content Security Policy (CSP)
   A strict CSP can help reduce the impact of reflected XSS by blocking inline scripts. Example basic header to reduce inline JavaScript execution:
   Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self' https://trusted.cdn.example; object-src 'none'; frame-ancestors 'none';
   Be careful: CSP can break some functionality. Use to reduce risk if you cannot patch.
9. Preserve logs and evidence
   Export webserver logs, WordPress activity logs, database snapshots, and plugin files. If you need incident response later, preserved evidence is critical.

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Recommended medium-term steps (1–7 days)

• Apply the plugin update (1.3.7) as soon as you can in production, following your deployment and testing workflow.
• Conduct a full site audit after updating:
  • Search for injected scripts in content, widgets, options, and postmeta.
  • Review recently modified plugin/theme files for unauthorized changes.
  • Compare file checksums to known-good plugin releases.
• Rotate credentials and tokens stored on the site (API keys, integration secrets) if you suspect compromise.
• Harden user registration:
  • Turn off automatic registrations or change default role to Subscriber.
  • Add moderation for new user content.
• Schedule a security scan with a reputable WordPress security scanner (preferably one that checks both file integrity and database content).
• Consider a professional incident response if you find signs of active exploitation.

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Long-term hardening (ongoing)

• Minimize plugins: remove unused plugins and third-party extensions.
• Follow the principle of least privilege for roles: avoid giving Contributor or higher privileges unless needed.
• Apply a layered security approach:
  • Managed WAF that provides virtual patching and OWASP Top 10 protections.
  • Malware scanning and removal.
  • Regular vulnerability scanning and patch management.
• Automate updates where safe: auto-update minor releases and security patches after validation.
• Implement backup and restore tested processes with offline copies retained for at least 30 days.
• Educate contributors and editors about not pasting untrusted HTML, scripts, or 3rd-party embed code.

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Developer guidance — fixing XSS properly

If you are a plugin or theme developer and reviewing code for similar patterns, focus on output escaping and input sanitization. Common mistakes:

• Storing HTML entered by users and echoing it without escaping.
• Building HTML fragments using concatenated user input.

Recommended WordPress functions and patterns:

<?php
$title = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['title'] );
$content = wp_kses_post( $_POST['content'] ); // allows safe subset of HTML
?>

Escape on output to the browser:

<?php
echo esc_html( $title );            // safe in HTML body (text)
echo esc_attr( $value );           // safe for attributes
echo wp_kses_post( $filtered_html ); // if you allow a subset of HTML
?>

For JavaScript contexts, use esc_js() そして json_encode safely:

<script>
  var data = <?php echo wp_json_encode( $safe_array ); ?>;
</script>

Avoid echoing raw input anywhere. Assume all input is untrusted.

If you need to allow markup from contributors, ensure it passes a strict wp_kses whitelist and is only allowed where absolutely necessary.

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Example signatures and WAF mitigation strategies

If you use a WAF that supports custom rules, you can block obvious exploit patterns temporarily while you update. Sample WAF heuristics (example patterns only):

• Block attempts to inject <script> tags in fields that should not include HTML:
  • Request containing <script in POST body for widget update endpoints.
• Block attempts to inject inline event handlers:
  • Patterns like onerror=, onload=, onclick= in form fields.
• Block obvious javascript: または data:text payloads:
  • javascript:, data:text/html, 評価(, String.fromCharCode.

Caveat: These signatures must be tuned to avoid false positives. Virtual patching is a stop-gap, not a permanent fix.

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Example incident response checklist

1. Triage and contain
   • Update or deactivate the vulnerable plugin.
   • Suspend suspect user accounts or set them to a read-only state.
2. 調査する
   • Check for signs of injected scripts in posts, widgets, and options.
   • Review recent admin and contributor activity.
   • Pull logs (web server, PHP error logs, WordPress activity logs).
3. Eradicate
   • Remove injected scripts, clean compromised files, and repair modified plugin files by reinstalling clean plugin versions.
   • Reset passwords for users with high privileges; rotate API keys.
4. Recover
   • Restore from last known-good backup if you cannot confirm full cleanup.
   • Reapply security updates and re-enable services carefully.
5. Lessons learned
   • Document the timeline and root cause.
   • Improve change management to ensure faster plugin updates.
   • Implement additional detection and prevention steps (WAF rules, CSP, stricter role management).

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Example detection queries (database)

Search common locations for stored XSS payloads:

• Search posts:

  SELECT ID, post_title FROM wp_posts WHERE post_content LIKE '%<script%' OR post_content LIKE '%javascript:%' OR post_content LIKE '%onerror=%' LIMIT 100;

• Search postmeta:

  SELECT meta_id, post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_value LIKE '%<script%' LIMIT 100;

• Search options (some plugins store data in options):

  SELECT option_id, option_name FROM wp_options WHERE option_value LIKE '%<script%' LIMIT 100;

If you identify suspicious entries, export them and inspect. Removing malicious content requires care; make sure to backup immediately before editing.

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Content Security Policy (CSP) example to reduce XSS impact

A well‑crafted CSP can prevent many injected inline scripts from running. Example header (start conservative and refine):

Content-Security-Policy:
  default-src 'self';
  script-src 'self' https://apis.example.com;
  object-src 'none';
  frame-ancestors 'none';
  base-uri 'self';
  script-src-attr 'none';
  upgrade-insecure-requests;

Note: CSP can break site features (inline scripts, third-party widgets). Test in staging and apply via webserver or security plugin.

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Why layered defenses matter (and how WP-Firewall helps)

A vulnerability like this is a reminder that security is layered. Relying on any single control is risky. Here’s our recommended layered stack:

• Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated.
• Reduce attack surface: remove unused plugins and themes.
• Least-privilege user management: limit who can publish content and create widgets.
• Hardening: 2FA, strong password policies, login protection.
• Routine scanning for malware and unauthorized modifications.
• External defenses: WAF and virtual patching to block common exploit patterns.
• Backups and tested recovery processes.

At WP-Firewall we operate with that defense-in-depth mindset. Our managed firewall and vulnerability protection are built to give you multiple lines of defense—detection, blocking, and recovery assistance.

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Practical examples: safe coding and escaping

Bad:

<?php
// Dangerous - outputs user content directly
echo $widget_settings['custom_html'];
?>

Good:

<?php
// Sanitize on saving, escape on output
$custom_html = wp_kses_post( $widget_settings['custom_html'] );
echo $custom_html;
?>

For attributes:

<input type="text" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $value ); ?>" />

For JSON inside script:

<script>
  var widget = <?php echo wp_json_encode( $safe_array ); ?>;
</script>

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Detection and monitoring recommendations

• Enable WordPress activity logging (who changed what).
• Monitor for sudden spikes in outbound requests, unexpected redirects, or new admin users.
• Use integrity checking to monitor modified plugin files and themes.
• Schedule daily or weekly automated scans for known malicious patterns (scripts, obfuscated code).

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Protect your site with essential managed defenses — try WP‑Firewall Basic (Free)

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Final recommendations — priority checklist

1. Inventory: Identify all sites using ElementInvader Addons for Elementor (<=1.3.6).
2. Patch: Update plugin to 1.3.7 or later across all sites as soon as possible.
3. Mitigate: If update is delayed, deactivate the plugin and apply WAF rules/CSP.
4. Harden roles: Reduce Contributor usage and stop automatic Contributor registration.
5. Scan: Run a full site scan for injected scripts and unauthorized changes.
6. Recover: If you find infections, restore from a clean backup and rotate secrets.
7. Monitor: Enable activity logging and automated scans going forward.

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Closing thoughts from the WP‑Firewall team

XSS vulnerabilities like CVE‑2025‑58205 are common in complex WordPress environments where user-supplied content and third-party plugin rendering intersect. The best defense is a combination of patch management, least‑privilege practices, and defensive controls such as managed WAF/virtual patching and detection.

We know plugin updates can sometimes break sites. That’s why a practical mitigation strategy—temporary virtual patching, user lockdowns, CSP, and staged updates—lets you buy time to validate updates safely.

If you’d like help applying rapid mitigations across multiple sites or want a virtual patch applied while you schedule updates, our team can assist. Start with the free WP‑Firewall Basic plan to get immediate managed WAF coverage and scanning (https://my.wp-firewall.com/buy/wp-firewall-free-plan/), and consider upgrading to higher tiers for automated removal, virtual patching, and dedicated support.

Stay vigilant—prompt patching and layered defenses will keep your WordPress site safe and resilient.

— WP‑Firewall Security Team