CVE-2025-2806 in tagDiv Composer Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2025
The tagDiv Composer plugin for WordPress, used by the Newspaper theme, is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘data’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 5.3 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 • 06/05/2025
The tagDiv Composer plugin represents a critical vulnerability within the WordPress ecosystem through CVE-2025-2806, which affects versions up to and including 5.3 of this popular plugin used extensively by the Newspaper theme. This vulnerability manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting flaw that exploits the 'data' parameter, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data, where insufficient sanitization allows malicious payloads to be reflected back to users without proper escaping, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability operates through a classic reflected XSS attack vector where an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the 'data' parameter and delivers it to unsuspecting users through social engineering tactics such as phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. When a victim clicks on the crafted link, the malicious script is executed in their browser within the context of the vulnerable website, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as any user visiting the malicious link could become compromised.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risk for websites utilizing the Newspaper theme and tagDiv Composer plugin, as it allows attackers to bypass traditional security measures that rely on user authentication or privileged access. The reflected nature of the attack means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server but rather reflected back to the user in the HTTP response, making detection more challenging for traditional security tools. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential harvesting through spearphishing campaigns. Organizations using affected versions face potential data breaches, user session compromise, and reputational damage as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access or exfiltrate sensitive information from authenticated users.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of the tagDiv Composer plugin to version 5.4 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads, input validation at the application level, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes. Organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution sources and conduct regular security training for users to recognize phishing attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of keeping WordPress plugins updated and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring to detect and respond to such threats effectively.