CVE-2025-22569 in Featured Page Widget Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/13/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in grandslambert Featured Page Widget allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Featured Page Widget: from n/a through 2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that exploits improper input handling during web page generation within the grandslambert Featured Page Widget plugin. The vulnerability manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting attack that occurs when user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of HTTP request parameters that are directly echoed back to users without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform unauthorized actions on their behalf. This particular vulnerability affects all versions of the Featured Page Widget plugin from the initial release through version 2.2, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been addressed in the affected codebase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly neutralize user-supplied input during the page generation process. When the widget processes incoming request parameters, it directly incorporates these values into HTML output without appropriate sanitization or encoding. This creates an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and executed in the context of a victim's browser session. The reflected nature of this XSS means that the malicious script is embedded in a URL and delivered to the victim through a phishing attack or social engineering campaign, where the script executes in the victim's browser when they click the malicious link. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's ability to handle user input during web page generation, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform other malicious activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to WordPress administrative interfaces. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute scripts that manipulate the victim's browser to perform actions such as posting content to the blog, modifying user permissions, or stealing authentication tokens. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious link, but once clicked, the attack can be highly effective in compromising user sessions and potentially gaining persistent access to the WordPress installation. This vulnerability particularly affects websites that rely on the Featured Page Widget plugin for displaying content, making it a significant concern for WordPress administrators who have not updated to patched versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 2.3 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Administrators should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at the web application firewall level and regular security monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns. The implementation of content security policies can provide additional protection by preventing the execution of unauthorized scripts even if an attacker successfully injects malicious code. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, while ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1059.007 for script execution and T1566 for phishing techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar input handling flaws in other plugins and themes, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern in WordPress plugin development where input validation is insufficiently implemented. Regular security audits of installed plugins and themes remain essential for identifying and addressing similar vulnerabilities that may not have been formally documented or patched yet.