CVE-2025-4223 in Page Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2025
The Page Builder: Pagelayer – Drag and Drop website builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘login_url’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.0.0 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link. A valid username/password pair needs to be supplied in order to be successfully exploited and any injected scripts will only execute in the context of that authenticated user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-4223 affects the Pagelayer WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.0.0. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes users to reflected cross-site scripting attacks through improper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests through the 'login_url' parameter, which fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into web responses. The security implications extend beyond simple script injection as this flaw requires authentication credentials to exploit effectively, yet once triggered, the malicious scripts execute within the authenticated user's browser context. This creates a scenario where attackers must obtain valid username and password combinations to leverage the vulnerability, but subsequent exploitation can lead to full account compromise and persistent malicious activity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices where the plugin fails to properly escape or filter user-provided data before rendering it in web pages. This creates a reflected XSS attack vector where malicious payloads are injected into the login_url parameter and subsequently executed when the page is rendered for authenticated users. The attack requires social engineering components to succeed, as users must be tricked into clicking malicious links that contain the crafted payloads. The authenticated execution context provides attackers with elevated privileges and access to user-specific data, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or further privilege escalation within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate script execution to encompass potential long-term security compromise of user accounts and website integrity. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can manipulate authenticated user sessions, potentially accessing sensitive content, modifying website configurations, or exfiltrating user data. The requirement for valid credentials limits the attack surface compared to fully unauthenticated vulnerabilities, but the authenticated execution context significantly amplifies the potential damage. Organizations using affected versions of the Pagelayer plugin face risks of credential theft, unauthorized content modification, and potential backdoor establishment within their WordPress installations. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access through session manipulation or by leveraging the authenticated context to perform more sophisticated attacks against the underlying WordPress infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-4223 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the reflected XSS vulnerability through proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators must ensure that all users operate with the latest plugin versions and implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of Content Security Policies can provide additional protection against script injection attempts, while regular security audits should verify that no malicious code has been introduced through exploitation. Organizations should also establish robust user education programs to prevent successful social engineering attacks that rely on tricking users into clicking malicious links. Network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify and block suspicious traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts, while maintaining detailed logs of authentication events to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of regular security updates and proper input validation practices in web application development, particularly for plugins that handle user authentication and session management functions.