CVE-2025-48276 in Website Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/19/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Visual Composer Visual Composer Website Builder allows Stored XSS. This issue affects Visual Composer Website Builder: from n/a through 45.11.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-48276 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the Visual Composer Website Builder platform, specifically manifesting as a stored XSS flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This vulnerability resides in the web page generation process where input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly neutralize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. The flaw affects versions of the Visual Composer Website Builder ranging from an unspecified starting point through version 45.11.0, indicating a broad impact across multiple releases of the content management system. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a prime example of how insufficient input sanitization can lead to severe security implications in web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user input is directly incorporated into web page content without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious scripts within content fields or configuration parameters that are subsequently stored within the application's database. When other users access pages containing this stored malicious content, the scripts execute within their browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists and affects multiple users over time rather than requiring immediate interaction with a specific page. This characteristic significantly amplifies the attack surface and impact potential compared to reflected XSS scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-48276 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access to user sessions and compromise the integrity of the entire website. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify website content, inject malicious advertisements, or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability's presence in the Visual Composer Website Builder platform specifically targets WordPress environments where this plugin is commonly deployed, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems that rely heavily on visual page builders. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code can affect all users who view affected pages, potentially compromising large user bases simultaneously. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and malicious content injection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through version updates to the Visual Composer Website Builder plugin, as vendors typically release patches addressing such security flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being stored or executed within the application. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all user-input fields within the platform, particularly those related to page content generation, shortcode parameters, and configuration settings. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, regular security scanning of stored content, and monitoring for suspicious script injections. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls may provide additional defense-in-depth, though these should not replace proper application-level fixes. The vulnerability's classification as a stored XSS flaw emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input sanitization processes throughout the application lifecycle, aligning with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.