CVE-2025-25140 in Simple User Profile Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/07/2025
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Scriptonite Simple User Profile allows Stored XSS. This issue affects Simple User Profile: from n/a through 1.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Scriptonite Simple User Profile plugin that combines cross-site request forgery with stored cross-site scripting capabilities. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user profile data submission processes, creating a dangerous attack vector that can be exploited to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users. The issue spans all versions from the initial release through version 1.9, indicating a long-standing problem that has not been adequately addressed. The combination of CSRF and XSS creates a particularly severe risk as attackers can first use CSRF to force authenticated users to perform actions on the vulnerable system, then leverage the stored XSS component to execute malicious code in the user's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and proper security controls within the user profile management functionality. When users submit profile information through the affected plugin, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the submitted data before storing it in the database. This stored data is then subsequently rendered in user interfaces without adequate output encoding or sanitization, creating the perfect conditions for stored XSS exploitation. The CSRF aspect allows attackers to craft malicious requests that can be executed by authenticated users, making the attack more effective and harder to detect since the malicious actions appear to originate from legitimate users. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses, and CWE-79, which covers Cross-Site Scripting flaws. The attack pattern follows the typical CSRF exploitation methodology described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1566, specifically targeting credential harvesting and privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable full account compromise and persistent malicious presence within affected systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain access to sensitive user information, manipulate user profiles, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected WordPress environment. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that once the vulnerability is exploited, the malicious code will persist and execute every time affected users view the compromised profile data, creating a continuous attack surface. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for sites with many users or those where administrators frequently view user profiles. The long version range from n/a through 1.9 suggests that the plugin developers have not adequately addressed the security concerns over an extended period, leaving numerous installations vulnerable to exploitation. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, as compromised user sessions can provide attackers with access to additional system resources.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate plugin updates to the latest available version, which should contain proper CSRF tokens and input sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, input validation at multiple layers, and output encoding for all user-supplied content. Security administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all WordPress installations using the affected plugin, monitoring for signs of exploitation and implementing proper access controls. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks, while proper session management and authentication controls should be enforced to minimize the impact of potential credential theft. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain comprehensive monitoring of their WordPress environments for signs of compromise or unauthorized modifications.