CVE-2025-23977 in Post Carousel Slider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/31/2025
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Bhaskar Dhote Post Carousel Slider allows Stored XSS. This issue affects Post Carousel Slider: from n/a through 2.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-23977 represents a critical security flaw in the Bhaskar Dhote Post Carousel Slider WordPress plugin, which combines Cross-Site Request Forgery and Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities. This dual nature makes the exploit particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser session while also allowing persistent script injection. The affected plugin versions range from an unspecified starting point through version 2.0.1, indicating that users running any version within this range are potentially at risk. The vulnerability resides in how the plugin handles user input and processes requests, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's functionality and compromise user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the plugin's administrative interfaces. When users interact with the carousel slider settings or content management features, the plugin fails to properly implement anti-CSRF tokens or other protective mechanisms that would prevent unauthorized requests from being executed. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress admin system, enabling them to inject persistent JavaScript payloads into the plugin's storage mechanisms. The stored XSS component occurs because the plugin does not adequately filter or escape user input before rendering it in administrative contexts, creating opportunities for attackers to execute scripts in the browsers of privileged users who view the affected content.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-23977 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable complete compromise of WordPress administrative accounts. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially gaining access to sensitive administrative functions, modifying content, or establishing persistent backdoors. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that once the malicious payload is injected, it will execute every time affected users access the administrative interface, creating a persistent threat that can be exploited repeatedly without requiring additional user interaction. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-79, which covers Cross-Site Scripting, making it a composite vulnerability that requires comprehensive remediation approaches.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard ATT&CK framework patterns for credential access and privilege escalation, where initial compromise often involves gaining access to administrative interfaces through CSRF attacks. Once the XSS payload is stored and executed, attackers can leverage the compromised session to perform actions such as modifying plugin configurations, injecting malicious content into posts, or even creating new administrator accounts. The impact on WordPress installations is significant as it affects not just the specific plugin but the entire administrative ecosystem, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain full control over the website. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the plugin, implementing proper input validation, and ensuring that anti-CSRF tokens are properly enforced in all administrative interfaces. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes that might be susceptible to the same class of attacks.