CVE-2025-23739 in WP Ultimate Reviews Free Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in NotFound WP Ultimate Reviews FREE allows Reflected XSS. This issue affects WP Ultimate Reviews FREE: from n/a through 1.0.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2025
The CVE-2025-23739 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the NotFound WP Ultimate Reviews FREE plugin, specifically targeting the web page generation process where input validation fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data. This reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from the plugin's inadequate handling of input parameters during the dynamic generation of web content, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists in versions of the plugin ranging from the initial release through version 1.0.2, indicating a persistent flaw that has not been addressed in the affected release cycle. The issue falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input containing malicious script code is reflected back to the victim's browser through the plugin's web page generation mechanism without proper sanitization or encoding. Attackers can craft malicious URLs or input parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, execute unauthorized scripts in the context of the victim's browser session. This reflected nature means the malicious payload is delivered through a request to the web application rather than being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input directly in their response generation. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's ability to neutralize potentially dangerous input during the dynamic content creation process, allowing attackers to bypass normal security controls and execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user data, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. Given that this vulnerability affects a WordPress plugin that likely handles user reviews and feedback, attackers could exploit it to manipulate review displays, inject phishing content, or gain access to user sessions if users are logged into the WordPress administration interface. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can deliver payloads through various vectors including email phishing campaigns, malicious links in forums, or compromised websites that direct users to exploit the vulnerable plugin. This type of vulnerability represents a significant risk to both end users and website administrators, as it can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or persistent access to the target system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-23739 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the reflected XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most direct and effective solution to the identified flaw. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent malicious scripts from being executed in web page contexts, following the principle of least privilege and proper data sanitization. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against reflected XSS attacks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for phishing with a focus on web application exploitation, and represents a critical concern for security posture management in WordPress environments where third-party plugins are commonly used. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other plugins or themes that may present similar input handling flaws, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in web application development practices.