CVE-2025-23462 in FWD Slider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/22/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in NotFound FWD Slider allows Reflected XSS. This issue affects FWD Slider: from n/a through 1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2025
The CVE-2025-23462 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the NotFound FWD Slider plugin, specifically targeting versions ranging from an unspecified initial state through version 1.0. This vulnerability falls under the well-documented CWE-79 category for Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a cornerstone weakness in web application security. The flaw manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability, meaning that malicious input is immediately reflected back to users without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an exploitable vector for attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the entire version range of the plugin, indicating a fundamental flaw in the input handling mechanisms that was not addressed in the development lifecycle.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process where user-supplied input parameters are directly incorporated into dynamically generated HTML content without appropriate security measures. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script payloads and tricks a user into clicking it, the slider plugin fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before rendering it on the page. This allows the malicious script to execute in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script is not stored on the server but is instead injected through the request parameters, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional server-side defenses alone.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the context of authenticated user sessions. An attacker could potentially steal user cookies, modify page content, redirect users to phishing sites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting or privilege escalation if the affected users have administrative privileges. The vulnerability affects any user who interacts with the slider plugin's functionality, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the plugin is widely used or where users may not be security-aware. The reflected XSS nature also means that attackers can leverage various attack vectors including email phishing campaigns, social engineering, or compromised websites to deliver the malicious payloads, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential impact.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-23462 should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that properly address the input sanitization flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent any user-supplied data from being directly rendered in web pages without proper sanitization. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to limit script execution capabilities even if a vulnerability is exploited. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter patterns and unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and components. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter techniques, highlighting the need for both technical and user awareness-based defenses. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-352 for Cross-Site Request Forgery and CWE-74 for Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output, emphasizing the multi-layered nature of the security controls required to prevent such issues.