A security flaw has been discovered in the popular Houzez WordPress theme, potentially exposing websites using the theme to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-9163, allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute when a user accesses a crafted SVG file.
Overview
CVE-2025-9163 affects versions of the Houzez theme up to and including 4.1.6. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping during SVG file uploads via the houzez_property_img_upload() and houzez_property_attachment_upload() functions. This allows attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code within SVG files, which can then be executed in a victim’s browser, potentially leading to account compromise or data theft.
Technical Details
The core issue lies in the lack of proper validation and sanitization of SVG files uploaded through the Houzez theme’s property image and attachment upload functionalities. Specifically, the theme fails to adequately strip or escape potentially harmful JavaScript code embedded within the SVG file. When a user accesses a property page containing a malicious SVG file, the browser interprets and executes the embedded JavaScript, allowing the attacker to perform actions within the context of the user’s session. The vulnerability affects unauthenticated users because the file upload functionality does not have adequate restrictions to prevent malicious file uploads.
CVSS Analysis
- CVE ID: CVE-2025-9163
- Severity: MEDIUM
- CVSS Score: 6.1
- CVSS Vector: (This would be the full CVSS vector string, but is not provided in the given text)
The CVSS score reflects the potential impact of the vulnerability. A score of 6.1 indicates a medium severity, primarily because the attack requires user interaction (accessing the SVG file), and the impact is limited to the user’s session. However, the lack of authentication required to upload the malicious SVG makes this flaw particularly concerning.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-9163 can lead to several negative consequences:
- Account Compromise: An attacker could potentially steal a user’s session cookies, granting them unauthorized access to the user’s account.
- Data Theft: Malicious scripts could be used to exfiltrate sensitive data, such as personal information or financial details.
- Website Defacement: The attacker could modify the website’s content or redirect users to malicious sites.
- Phishing Attacks: Injected scripts could be used to display fake login forms, tricking users into revealing their credentials.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To protect your website from CVE-2025-9163, it is crucial to update your Houzez theme to the latest version, which includes a fix for this vulnerability. Favethemes has released a patched version that addresses the input sanitization and output escaping issues.
- Update Houzez Theme: Navigate to your WordPress dashboard, go to “Appearance” -> “Themes,” and update the Houzez theme to the latest available version.
- Verify Theme Version: After updating, verify that you are running a version higher than 4.1.6.
- Consider a Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a WAF to provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks.
- Regularly Scan for Vulnerabilities: Use a security scanner to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities in your WordPress site and its plugins/themes.
