Tên plugin	Responsive Addons for Elementor
Type of Vulnerability	Authenticated Stored XSS
CVE Number	CVE-2025-8215
Tính cấp bách	Thấp
CVE Publish Date	2025-09-11
Source URL	CVE-2025-8215

Responsive Addons for Elementor (≤1.7.4) — Authenticated Contributor Stored XSS (CVE-2025-8215): Analysis, Risks, and Practical Mitigations

By WP-Firewall Security Team | 2025-09-11

Full technical analysis and mitigation guidance for website owners and developers. Learn how this stored XSS works, how to detect abuse, and how WP-Firewall can protect your sites (including our free plan).

Executive summary

A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability was disclosed in the WordPress plugin “Responsive Addons for Elementor” affecting versions up to and including 1.7.4. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-8215 and assigned a CVSS-equivalent score of 6.5. An authenticated attacker with Contributor privileges (or higher) can inject malicious script into widget configuration fields. Because those fields are stored and later rendered inside pages or the WordPress admin, the payload can execute in the context of an administrator or site visitor, depending on where the widget output is shown.

This advisory explains:

• How the vulnerability works in practical terms,
• Realistic attack scenarios and impact,
• How to detect whether your site was targeted or compromised,
• Short-term and long-term mitigation steps for site owners and developers,
• How our firewall and managed protection can defend your site (including the free plan),
• Developer guidance to fix the issue properly in code.

We write this from an experienced WordPress security perspective and with practical steps you can run immediately — no developer-only jargon, but enough detail for technical teams.

Vulnerability overview

• Title: Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via multiple widgets
• Affected plugin: Responsive Addons for Elementor
• Các phiên bản bị ảnh hưởng: ≤ 1.7.4
• Hướng tấn công: Stored XSS in widget settings / widget output
• Quyền yêu cầu: Contributor or higher (authenticated)
• CVE: CVE-2025-8215
• Reported: 2025-09-11
• Official patch: Not available at time of disclosure

Stored XSS (aka persistent XSS) occurs when an attacker can submit input to the server that is stored and later rendered into pages without proper escaping or sanitization. In this case, the plugin stores widget settings that are later output in frontend or admin pages. The settings were not adequately sanitized or escaped before output, enabling a contributor-level user to save payloads that execute in the browser of someone viewing the rendered widget or the admin pages that show widget previews.

Why Contributor privilege matters

The Contributor role in WordPress can typically:

• Create and edit their own posts and content,
• Sometimes edit content depending on the site configuration,
• Not publish posts (publication requires Editor or Admin).

However, contributors are authenticated users. Allowing any authenticated user to submit HTML or unescaped strings that are later executed in admin or frontend contexts is dangerous. Attackers frequently target sites where editorial workflows include external contributors or guest authors — not every site is closed to unknown contributors.

Realistic attack scenarios

1. Stored XSS leading to admin account takeover
   – A contributor injects script into a widget setting that is displayed in the admin preview or in the Widgets screen.
   – When an administrator views that page (e.g., building a page or reviewing widgets), the payload runs in the administrator’s browser. It could steal cookies/token material, perform CSRF-like actions in the admin session, or create a new admin user via AJAX calls.
2. Defacement / redirection / malware delivery
   – Payloads in the frontend can redirect visitors to malicious domains, inject advertisements, or silently load cryptomining scripts.
3. Targeted phishing or credential capture
   – Attackers can create widget entries that display fake admin notices or login prompts to capture credentials when an admin tries to fix the issue.
4. Supply-chain / propagation
   – If the site is used to serve content to other sites (iframes, widgets), the XSS can affect more than one origin.

Impact assessment

• Confidentiality: High risk when admin sessions are targeted — attackers could export users, view private content, or exfiltrate secrets.
• Integrity: Moderate to high — plugin settings or site content can be changed.
• Availability: Low to moderate — redirects and malicious scripts can degrade site experience.
• Reachability: Depends on where widget renders — if admin-only, fewer public victims but high impact; if frontend renders, broad reach.

CVSS 6.5 indicates a moderately severe vulnerability — exploitable only with authenticated contributor privileges — but one that crosses into high-impact territory if administrative sessions are victimized.

Indicators of compromise and detection

If you run a site with the vulnerable plugin version, prioritize detection:

1. Search the database for suspicious script tags in widget settings and postmeta:
   – Many widgets store configuration in postmeta (postmeta.meta_value) or wp_options. Use these queries cautiously and on a non-production replica if possible.

   Example WP-CLI / MySQL searches (run on a shell with appropriate DB access):

   # WP-CLI: search postmeta for script tags
   wp db query "SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_value LIKE '%<script%' LIMIT 100;" --skip-column-names
   
   # Search for <script> in options table (theme and plugin settings):
   wp db query "SELECT option_name, option_value FROM wp_options WHERE option_value LIKE '%<script%' LIMIT 100;" --skip-column-names
   
   # Search for common widget storage patterns (example searching for 'responsive' strings):
   wp db query "SELECT * FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_key LIKE '%responsive%' OR meta_value LIKE '%responsive%';"
   

2. Check admin user activity logs
   – If you maintain audit logs (via security plugin or host), look for unusual admin actions coinciding with suspicious database entries.
   – Identify the contributor user who created/edited the widget.
3. Inspect rendered pages
   – View page source and search for unexpected inline scripts, base64 blobs, eval(), document.write() or unexpected external script tags.
4. Web server logs
   – Look for GET requests that include injected payloads (e.g., admin-ajax calls or unusual query parameters) or unusual POST requests from contributor accounts.
5. Malware / SEO complaints
   – External blacklists or warnings from search engines (Google Search Console) may flag script injection.

Immediate remediation (site owner checklist)

If you host sites with the vulnerable plugin version and cannot update (there is no official fix yet), follow these steps immediately:

1. Isolate contributor uploads and editor abilities
   – Temporarily revoke Contributor-level privileges for external accounts and reassign tasks to trusted Editors or Admins.
   – Consider disabling registration or auto-creation of contributor users.
2. Remove or deactivate the vulnerable plugin
   – If the plugin is non-essential, the simplest immediate fix is to deactivate it:

   wp plugin deactivate responsive-addons-for-elementor

3. Disable affected widgets
   – If you can identify which widget types are vulnerable, remove or disable them from pages/templates until patched.
4. Clean suspected payloads
   – Identify and remove any stored scripts in postmeta/options (see detection queries above).
   – Prefer sanitized manual edits over automated regex replacements; ensure backups before modifying DB.
5. Enforce admin-only widget editing
   – Limit which roles can edit theme widgets or page builder widgets (plugins that manage roles/capabilities can help).
6. Apply WAF virtual rules (recommended)
   – If you have a Web Application Firewall, enable rules that block requests containing suspicious payload patterns being saved by non-admin users. A well-configured WAF will block the exploit attempts even if the plugin remains installed.

How WP-Firewall (your managed WAF) helps — practical protection

At WP-Firewall we protect WordPress sites at multiple layers. If you’re using WP-Firewall, here is how we defend a site from this exact class of vulnerability:

• Managed WAF signatures
  We deploy virtual patch rules that recognize attempts to store script tags, event handlers (onclick, onerror), or suspicious JavaScript patterns inside widget configuration POSTs from non-admin users. These rules block the request before the plugin saves the malicious data.
• Behavior-based blocking
  We detect anomalies such as a contributor submitting content that contains executable markup. For role-based exceptions, we block content that exceeds normal contributor activity.
• Frontend output hardening
  Our WAF can sanitize outgoing HTML when we detect stored payloads, removing script tags and dangerous attributes before delivery to the victim’s browser.
• Monitoring & alerting
  We log and alert administrators when an attempt is made to save content containing executable script patterns. That accelerates triage and incident response.
• Free plan coverage
  Our Basic (Free) plan includes managed firewall, WAF, malware scanner, and mitigation for OWASP Top 10 threats — all features that help in this scenario. You can enable protection immediately and get automatic blocking for many exploit patterns. (Sign-up information provided below.)

If you are operating many sites or run a hosting environment, managed WAF + virtual patching dramatically reduces time-to-protection when there is no official plugin patch.

Developer guidance — how to fix the vulnerability (for plugin authors / integrators)

If you are the plugin developer or maintain custom widgets based on the plugin, the correct fix is to implement proper input validation, sanitization at save-time, and escaping at output-time.

1. Sanitize on save
   Always sanitize inputs when saving widget settings. Use the appropriate WordPress functions based on the expected type:

<?php
// Text field that should contain plain text
$instance['title'] = sanitize_text_field( $new_instance['title'] );

// Textarea for summary without HTML
$instance['summary'] = sanitize_textarea_field( $new_instance['summary'] );

// If you must accept limited HTML, use wp_kses() with an allowlist
$allowed_tags = array(
    'a' => array( 'href' => true, 'title' => true, 'rel' => true ),
    'strong' => array(),
    'em' => array(),
    'br' => array(),
    'p' => array(),
);
$instance['rich'] = wp_kses( $new_instance['rich'], $allowed_tags );
?>

2. Escape on output
   Never trust stored data. Escape immediately before output:

<?php
// For HTML attributes
echo esc_attr( $instance['button_text'] );

// For HTML content where limited tags permitted
echo wp_kses_post( $instance['content'] );

// For text nodes
echo esc_html( $instance['subtitle'] );
?>

3. Capability checks and nonces
   Validate user capabilities before processing widget saves, and always verify nonces:

<?php
if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_posts' ) ) {
    return;
}

if ( ! isset( $_POST['my_widget_nonce'] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( $_POST['my_widget_nonce'], 'save_my_widget' ) ) {
    return;
}
?>

4. Avoid echoing raw JSON stored in meta into inline scripts
   If you must store JSON settings, encode safely:

<?php
// Use wp_json_encode which applies JSON_HEX_TAG etc.
$data = wp_json_encode( $settings );
echo '<script>var mySettings = ' . wp_json_encode( $settings, JSON_HEX_TAG | JSON_HEX_APOS | JSON_HEX_QUOT | JSON_HEX_AMP ) . ';</script>';
?>

5. Use wp_kses for controlled HTML
   If you allow HTML inputs, keep an explicit allowlist of tags and attributes and do not allow script, style, on* attributes.
6. Audit widget rendering contexts
   Where a widget is shown in admin context, avoid outputting saved HTML. If necessary, strip tags or use a preview that escapes content.
7. Unit and integration tests
   Add automated tests that verify inputs with script-like content are sanitized and that outputs are escaped.

Suggested WAF rule logic (for security teams)

If you manage a WAF or are writing virtual patch rules, consider these heuristics:

• Block requests that:
  • Are POSTs to widget saving endpoints or admin-ajax that contain <script> or on* event attributes (onclick, onerror, onload) and come from users with Contributor or lower roles.
  • Include suspicious JavaScript patterns (document.cookie, eval(, window.location, <svg onload=).
• Sanitize (strip) suspicious markup from responses that include widget output, but only when DB-level sanitization is not available.
• Rate limit contributors saving widget data; mandate nonce validation.
• Log offending user IDs and block repetition by IP.

Note: Rules must be carefully scoped to avoid false positives. Test on staging first.

Hardening recommendations for site owners

1. Principle of least privilege
   Assign only necessary capabilities. If a contributor doesn’t need widget editing or page-building rights, revoke them.
2. Fast plugin update policy
   Enable automatic updates for plugins where practical, and monitor vendor advisories.
3. Regular backups and DB snapshots
   Maintain point-in-time backups so you can revert if malicious content was stored.
4. Two-person administrative reviews
   Require another admin to review or approve changes to site structure or widget configuration.
5. Use role management plugins cautiously
   Role and capability plugins can help tighten who can edit widgets and use page-builders.
6. Monitor site health
   Regularly scan for malware and perform content integrity checks. Search for inline script insertions in DB.
7. Security headers and CSP
   Implement security headers (Content-Security-Policy, X-Frame-Options, Referrer-Policy) to limit impact of XSS. A restrictive CSP reduces the ability of injected scripts to load remote code.

Example minimal CSP to reduce inline script impact:

Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self' 'nonce-<dynamic>' https://trusted-scripts.example.com; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'self';

Note: CSP must be configured carefully because many WordPress themes/plugins rely on inline scripts.

Incident response: if you suspect an exploit

1. Snapshot and isolate
   – Take an offline backup (database + file system) for forensic analysis.
   – Temporarily turn off public access or serve a maintenance page if severe.
2. Identify the injection source
   – Use the database queries above to find stored script payloads.
   – Locate which user saved the content and when.
3. Clean payloads and rotate secrets
   – Remove malicious content, rotate API keys, change passwords for admin users, regenerate any exposed tokens.
4. Rebuild compromised accounts
   – If admin accounts were created by the attacker, remove them and audit activity done while they existed.
5. Post-incident monitoring
   – After cleanup, increase logging, and watch for repeat attempts.
6. Patch and validate
   – Apply the plugin update when available and test the site. If the plugin author has not released a fix, keep virtual patching enabled.

Frequently asked questions

Q: I only have contributors on my site — how worried should I be?
A: If your contributors do not normally have widget or page builder access, your risk is lower but not zero. If contributors can insert widgets or have access to page-building screens, take immediate action: restrict capabilities and enable WAF protection.

Q: Can I sanitize all stored widget settings automatically?
A: You can run database sanitization scripts, but this is risky and may damage legitimate stored data. Prefer manual triage or targeted sanitization. Always backup before mass DB operations.

Q: Will adding Content-Security-Policy stop this attack?
A: A strict CSP that disallows inline scripts and remote script loading can limit impact, but CSP is not a complete substitute for proper sanitization and escaping.

Recommended timeline for mitigation (priority checklist)

• Hours: Disable or deactivate the plugin if non-essential; restrict contributor role; enable WAF rules.
• 1–2 days: Search DB for payloads and remove them; rotate sensitive credentials; increase logging.
• 1–2 weeks: Patch the plugin once vendor releases update; test thoroughly on staging environment before production.
• Ongoing: Implement least privilege, content sanitization, and continuous security scanning.

How WP-Firewall supports you (plan summary and quick sign-up)

At WP-Firewall we designed our plans so you can get meaningful protection quickly. Here’s a compact feature summary:

• Basic (Free): Essential protection — managed firewall, unlimited bandwidth, WAF, malware scanner, and mitigation against OWASP Top 10 risks. Perfect to stop many automated exploit attempts and provide baseline protection for vulnerabilities like this one.
• Standard ($50/year): Adds automatic malware removal and the ability to blacklist/whitelist up to 20 IPs.
• Pro ($299/year): Adds monthly security reports, automated virtual patching, priority support and premium managed services.

Protect your site quickly by enabling Basic (Free) managed WAF protection — it can block exploit attempts and buy your team time while you perform cleanup and await an official plugin fix.

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Developer checklist for a proper plugin fix

If you are a developer patching the plugin, please include the following in your patch submission/release notes:

• Input sanitization at all widget and setting write paths (sanitize_text_field, sanitize_textarea_field, wp_kses with allowed tags).
• Output escaping on all rendering paths (esc_html, esc_attr, wp_kses_post).
• Nonce verification and capability checks on all admin AJAX handlers and save endpoints.
• Unit tests that simulate malicious payloads saved by non-admin accounts and verify no execution occurs in admin or frontend contexts.
• A changelog entry clearly describing the security fix and recommended upgrade path.
• A disclosure timeline and contact method for security researchers.

Final recommendations and closing thoughts

Stored XSS vulnerabilities that require contributor privileges might be dismissed as “low risk” in some scoring systems because anonymous remote exploitation is not possible. In practice, editorial workflows, third-party content providers, and multi-author blogs often include contributors who are not fully trusted. Because this vulnerability can execute in an administrator’s browser, it can lead to high-impact outcomes despite the initial privilege limitation.

If you manage WordPress sites:

• Immediately assess whether the Responsive Addons plugin is installed and whether your contributors can edit widget settings.
• Apply short-term mitigations (deactivate plugin or disable widgets) and enable WAF protection.
• Clean database entries where suspicious scripts are present.
• Plan to apply vendor patches as soon as they are available and ensure developer fixes use proper sanitization and escaping.

Security is a layered effort. Robust WAF rules and virtual patching reduce time-to-protection; code fixes and permissions hardening reduce attack surface; monitoring and backups give you recovery options.

Secure your site now with managed WAF and website protection — the Basic (Free) WP-Firewall plan includes the essential protections you need to stop many exploit attempts and buy time for remediation. Sign up and enable protection here: https://my.wp-firewall.com/buy/wp-firewall-free-plan/

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If you would like, our team can run a quick free scan of your site to detect indicators of this stored-XSS class and provide tailored, actionable remediation steps.