CVE-2025-15483 in Link Hopper Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2026
The Link Hopper plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘hop_name’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.5 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-15483 affects the Link Hopper plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.5. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability through the 'hop_name' parameter, creating a persistent threat vector within WordPress environments. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it requires only administrator-level access to exploit, making it a significant risk for organizations where privileged accounts may be compromised. The flaw resides in the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user input and escape output, creating an opening for malicious code injection that can persist across multiple user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the plugin's handling of the 'hop_name' parameter. When administrators create or modify link hop entries, the plugin fails to adequately sanitize the input data before storing it in the database. This stored data is then subsequently rendered on web pages without proper output escaping, allowing malicious scripts to execute whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected content. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, specifically addressing the failure to properly escape output in web applications. This particular variant is classified as stored XSS because the malicious payload is permanently stored within the application's database rather than being reflected in a single request.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, particularly in multi-site WordPress installations where the attack surface is expanded. Attackers with administrator privileges can inject malicious scripts that execute whenever any user accesses affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the WordPress environment. The restriction that this vulnerability only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled provides some mitigation but does not eliminate the risk entirely, as administrators may still be able to manipulate the plugin's functionality within these constrained environments. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which involves executing malicious code through command and scripting interpreter, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access through injected scripts.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker with administrator privileges, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to vulnerabilities requiring lower privilege levels. However, the potential for privilege escalation remains high as administrators typically have broad access to system resources and can manipulate plugin configurations to achieve their objectives. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version, applying the necessary security patches, and reviewing user permissions to ensure that only trusted administrators have access to plugin management features. Additionally, monitoring for unusual plugin modifications and implementing proper input validation across all user-generated content can help detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.