CVE-2026-85302 in WPKoi Templates for Elementor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/03/2026
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in WPKoi WordPress Themes WPKoi Templates for Elementor allows DOM-Based XSS.
This issue affects WPKoi Templates for Elementor: from n/a through 3.7.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2026
The identified security flaw represents a classic instance of Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, commonly categorized under the Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability class. Specifically, this issue manifests as a DOM-based XSS within the WPKoi WordPress Themes and their associated Templates for Elementor plugin ecosystem. The affected versions span from initial releases up through version 3.7.2, indicating that any installation utilizing these specific template packages is potentially susceptible to exploitation if user-controlled input is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms before being rendered in the Document Object Model.
In a DOM-based XSS scenario, the vulnerability does not necessarily rely on server-side processing of malicious payloads but rather occurs when client-side scripts read data from an insecure source, such as URL parameters, form inputs, or other dynamic content sources, and subsequently write that data into the DOM without proper encoding. This allows an attacker to inject executable JavaScript code directly into the browser context of a victim user. When the vulnerable page loads or interacts with specific elements provided by the WPKoi Templates for Elementor plugin, the malicious script executes within the security context of the website. This execution environment grants the injected code full access to cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive data stored locally in the browser, as well as the ability to perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for both site administrators and end-users. For attackers, successful exploitation facilitates unauthorized access to administrative accounts if an administrator visits a crafted link containing the malicious payload. This can lead to complete compromise of the WordPress installation, including data exfiltration, defacement, or the deployment of further malware such as webshells or cryptominers. For regular users, it poses risks related to session hijacking and credential theft. Furthermore, because DOM-based XSS relies on client-side processing, traditional server-level Web Application Firewalls may not always detect or block these attacks effectively unless they are specifically configured to inspect and sanitize JavaScript execution contexts and URL parameters in real-time.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (Cross-site Scripting). It also maps closely to the MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers JavaScript execution within web browsers. The specific nature of DOM-based XSS often correlates with CWE-829 in contexts where insecure inclusion of resources is involved, though the primary vector here remains input handling during page generation via client-side scripts. Understanding these mappings helps security teams prioritize remediation efforts based on established industry standards for vulnerability management and risk assessment.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate patching and long-term defensive coding practices. The most critical step is to upgrade the WPKoi Templates for Elementor plugin to a version later than 3.7.2, where developers have presumably implemented fixes such as output encoding or input validation. In addition to updating software, administrators should enforce strict Content Security Policy headers that restrict the execution of inline scripts and limit sources from which external resources can be loaded. This reduces the blast radius if an XSS vector is discovered in other plugins or themes. Furthermore, implementing Input Validation at all entry points ensures that only expected data formats are accepted, while Output Encoding guarantees that any dynamic content rendered to the browser is properly escaped to prevent interpretation as executable code. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on DOM-based vectors will further strengthen the resilience of WordPress environments against this class of client-side attacks.