CVE-2025-6747 in Avada Fusion Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/16/2025
The Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'fusion_map' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 3.12.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-6747 affects the Avada (Fusion) Builder plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting the 'fusion_map' shortcode implementation. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress installations relying on this popular page builder plugin. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 3.12.1, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple releases of the software. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode processing logic, creating a persistent security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors with relatively low privileges.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient sanitization of user-supplied attributes within the fusion_map shortcode functionality. When administrators or contributors with appropriate privileges create or edit content using this shortcode, the plugin fails to properly validate or escape the input parameters before rendering them in the output HTML. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the shortcode attributes, which then gets stored within the WordPress database and executed whenever any user accesses pages containing the compromised content. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user input in a way that bypasses standard WordPress security measures, creating a persistent XSS vector that can affect all users who view the compromised pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher to establish persistent backdoors within WordPress installations. This level of access allows threat actors to manipulate content, steal user sessions, perform unauthorized actions, and potentially escalate privileges within the compromised environment. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that the attack remains active even after the initial injection, continuously affecting any user who accesses the compromised pages. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where a single compromised contributor account can lead to widespread exploitation across an entire website or network of interconnected sites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-6747 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization and escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement strict role-based access controls to limit contributor privileges and reduce the attack surface available to potential attackers. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress installations should include comprehensive scanning for similar input validation vulnerabilities within custom shortcodes and plugin functionalities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and maps to ATT&CK technique T1546.001 (Event Triggered Execution: Change Default File Association) when exploited for persistent access. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers as an additional defense-in-depth measure to mitigate the impact of any successful XSS attempts, though this should not replace proper input validation and sanitization within the application code itself.