CVE-2025-2483 in Gift Certificate Creator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2025
The Gift Certificate Creator plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘receip_address’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.1.0 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The Gift Certificate Creator plugin for WordPress presents a critical security vulnerability classified as reflected cross-site scripting in versions up to and including 1.1.0. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, specifically affecting the 'receip_address' parameter. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts into web pages that are subsequently executed when users interact with the vulnerable plugin functionality. The vulnerability exists because the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into web page responses, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be delivered to unsuspecting users. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring user authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can influence the parameters sent to the vulnerable plugin.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the 'receip_address' parameter and distributes it through social engineering tactics or compromised websites. When a victim clicks on the malicious link, their browser executes the injected script within the context of the vulnerable WordPress site, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious script is reflected off the web server rather than being stored, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the improper handling of input data that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector follows standard XSS exploitation patterns where the attacker crafts a payload that gets executed in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to full compromise of user sessions and data exfiltration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through session manipulation or to redirect users to phishing sites that harvest credentials. The vulnerability affects all users of the plugin regardless of their authentication status, making it particularly concerning for WordPress installations that rely on this plugin for gift certificate functionality. Organizations using this plugin are at risk of having their users' browsers execute malicious code, potentially leading to data breaches, loss of sensitive information, or compromise of the entire WordPress installation. The vulnerability also creates potential for abuse in targeted attacks where attackers can craft specific payloads designed to exploit the particular plugin implementation and user base. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1566 for initial access through social engineering, and T1059 for execution of malicious code through web-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including updating to the latest version of the Gift Certificate Creator plugin where the XSS vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should also implement input validation at multiple levels including server-side sanitization of all user-supplied parameters and proper output escaping before rendering content to web pages. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution, while monitoring web server logs for suspicious parameter patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should include checking for outdated plugins and themes that may present similar XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit such vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include not only patching the specific vulnerability but also reviewing the plugin's code for similar input handling issues that may exist in other parameters or functions within the same codebase.