CVE-2025-11994 in Easy Email Subscription Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/12/2025
The Easy Email Subscription plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'name' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2025
The Easy Email Subscription plugin for WordPress presents a critical security vulnerability classified as CVE-2025-11994, affecting all versions up to and including 1.3. This vulnerability manifests as a stored cross-site scripting flaw that exploits the 'name' parameter within the plugin's functionality, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and execute malicious code in the context of affected websites. The vulnerability resides in the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user input and escape output, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute whenever legitimate users access affected pages. This stored XSS vulnerability represents a significant risk to WordPress installations as it enables attackers to manipulate the plugin's data handling mechanisms and potentially escalate privileges or steal sensitive information from authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the plugin's processing logic for the 'name' parameter. When users submit data through the email subscription form, the plugin fails to properly sanitize the input before storing it in the database, and subsequently fails to escape the output when rendering the stored data. This dual failure creates a persistent XSS condition where malicious scripts can be stored in the plugin's database records and executed whenever the affected data is displayed on web pages. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can leverage it to compromise any user who accesses pages containing the maliciously injected content. The attack vector involves crafting malicious script payloads in the name parameter that are then stored and executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-11994 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including but not limited to session manipulation, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. When exploited, this vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to inject scripts that can execute in the context of legitimate users, potentially enabling them to access administrative panels, modify content, or steal cookies and session tokens. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, malicious payloads persist indefinitely until manually removed by administrators, creating a long-term threat to website security. Additionally, the vulnerability can be leveraged to redirect users to phishing sites or to inject malicious advertisements, potentially compromising the website's reputation and user trust. The impact is particularly severe for websites that rely heavily on user-generated content or email subscription functionality, as these are prime targets for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-11994 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms to prevent malicious script injection, following secure coding practices that align with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting script execution and preventing unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes, as this vulnerability pattern is common in WordPress environments where proper input validation is not consistently applied. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and automated patch management systems should be implemented to ensure timely updates across all WordPress installations. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting XSS vulnerabilities, while maintaining detailed logging of all user interactions with the vulnerable plugin to facilitate incident response and forensic analysis.