CVE-2025-26769 in Vertex Addons for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Webilia Inc. Vertex Addons for Elementor allows Stored XSS. This issue affects Vertex Addons for Elementor: from n/a through 1.2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-26769 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Vertex Addons for Elementor plugin developed by Webilia Inc. This stored XSS vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process when input data is improperly neutralized, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the plugin ranging from the initial release through version 1.2.0, indicating a widespread exposure period that likely affected numerous websites utilizing the Elementor page builder framework. The flaw resides in how the plugin processes user input when generating web content, failing to adequately sanitize or escape data before rendering it within HTML contexts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The stored aspect of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads are not merely reflected in response data but are permanently stored within the application's database or storage mechanisms. This characteristic significantly amplifies the attack potential as the malicious scripts persist and automatically execute whenever affected pages are accessed by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability likely occurs during the handling of form inputs, user-generated content, or configuration parameters within the Elementor addon framework where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into HTML output without proper sanitization measures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for websites using the affected plugin, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, and redirection to malicious sites. The stored nature of the XSS means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, it can affect all users who subsequently visit the compromised pages without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. This vulnerability particularly threatens websites that rely on Elementor for content management, as the plugin's integration with WordPress creates multiple potential entry points for malicious input. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that Elementor is widely used across various website types, from simple business sites to complex enterprise applications, making the potential impact of this vulnerability extensive across different sectors and website categories.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS flaw, as recommended by the vendor and security advisories. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in their own applications, following established security practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers, regular security auditing of third-party plugins, and maintaining updated security monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and security scanning tools to identify and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in their environments. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes, particularly for widely used plugins and frameworks that serve as foundational components for numerous websites and applications.