CVE-2025-23508 in Extra Options Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2025
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in EdesaC Extra Options – Favicons allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Extra Options – Favicons: from n/a through 1.1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
This Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability in the EdesaC Extra Options – Favicons plugin represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to execute stored cross-site scripting attacks through manipulated CSRF requests. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of favicon-related data submission processes, where insufficient validation and authentication mechanisms allow malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the target system. The affected version range spanning from n/a through 1.1.0 indicates that this flaw has been present in multiple iterations of the plugin, suggesting a fundamental architectural weakness in the input sanitization and request verification processes. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery conditions where the application fails to properly validate the origin of requests, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on user authentication and session management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with the maliciously crafted requests that modify favicon configurations within the WordPress environment. The stored XSS component manifests when the malicious payload is saved to the database and subsequently executed in the browser of any user who views the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can establish backdoors, steal user sessions, or perform unauthorized administrative actions through the compromised plugin interface. The vulnerability leverages the trust relationship between the web application and legitimate users, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior without requiring direct access to user credentials. The CSRF aspect specifically targets the lack of anti-forgery tokens or proper request origin validation that should prevent unauthorized modifications to the plugin's configuration settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete compromise of user accounts and potential privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage the stored XSS to harvest cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malware payloads that persist across user sessions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of favicon management within WordPress, which is typically accessed through administrative interfaces, making it particularly dangerous for site administrators who may unknowingly trigger the malicious scripts during routine maintenance activities. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the use of malicious favicon files as part of social engineering campaigns, and T1547.001, which involves the establishment of persistence mechanisms through web-based attacks. The exposure of user sessions and potential administrative access creates a significant risk for organizations relying on WordPress for their web presence.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin versions, implementation of proper anti-CSRF token validation, and enhanced input sanitization for all user-submitted data. Administrators should ensure that all WordPress plugins are regularly updated and that security audits are conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against stored XSS attacks by restricting script execution from unauthorized sources. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious CSRF requests targeting known vulnerable endpoints. Regular security monitoring and user education about the risks of interacting with untrusted websites or downloading potentially malicious files can further reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper security testing during plugin development and the need for robust input validation mechanisms to prevent persistent security flaws in web applications.