CVE-2025-1517
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts via specific shortcodes in the Sina Extension for Elementor plugin. The scripts are stored and execute whenever users view affected pages, enabling persistent cross-site scripting attacks. All WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 3.6.0 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Sina Extension for Elementor WordPress plugin
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, deface websites, or install backdoors for persistent access.
Likely Case
Attackers with contributor access inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies, perform phishing attacks, or modify page content.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and input validation, impact is limited to content manipulation within contributor permissions.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access (contributor role or higher). The vulnerability is in specific shortcode attributes with insufficient sanitization.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 3.6.0
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3246221/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Sina Extension for Elementor'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download latest version from WordPress repository and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable shortcodes
allRemove or disable Fancy Text, Countdown Widget, and Login Form shortcodes from pages/posts
Restrict user roles
allLimit contributor-level access to trusted users only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution
- Use web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads in shortcode attributes
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check plugin version in WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins. If version is 3.6.0 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name='Sina Extension for Elementor' --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify version is above 3.6.0. Test shortcode functionality to ensure it still works without executing scripts from attributes.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual shortcode modifications by contributor users
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by shortcode edits
Network Indicators:
- External script loads from unexpected domains in page responses
- Suspicious attribute values in shortcode parameters
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (event="plugin_update" AND plugin="sina-extension-for-elementor" AND version<="3.6.0") OR (event="post_edit" AND user_role="contributor" AND content CONTAINS "[sina-")🔗 References
- https://github.com/shaonsina/sina-extension-for-elementor/commit/5cb89db08b15a3011800ee0f6ad68c69c5a256d5
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/sina-extension-for-elementor/trunk/widgets/advanced/sina-countdown.php
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/sina-extension-for-elementor/trunk/widgets/advanced/sina-login-form.php
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/sina-extension-for-elementor/trunk/widgets/basic/sina-fancytext.php
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3246221/
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/sina-extension-for-elementor/#developers
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/e699f521-9133-41b0-b667-528da78fec06?source=cve
