CVE-2025-28926 in Post Read Time Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/12/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in popeating Post Read Time allows Stored XSS. This issue affects Post Read Time: from n/a through 1.2.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The issue resides within the popeating Post Read Time plugin, specifically in how it processes and renders user input during web page generation. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads persist in the application's database and can be executed whenever affected pages are loaded, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When users submit content or interact with the plugin's functionality, the system fails to properly validate and escape potentially malicious input before storing it in the database. This allows attackers to embed javascript code or other malicious payloads that are subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic case of improper neutralization of input during web page generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft malicious posts or comments that, when viewed by other users, would execute scripts to steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This threat is particularly concerning in environments where multiple users interact with the plugin, as the stored nature of the vulnerability means that a single successful attack can compromise numerous users over time. The vulnerability affects versions through 1.2.6, indicating that organizations running these older versions face significant risk.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to the latest version that addresses the XSS vulnerability. Organizations must also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other applications. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth layers, while security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous user behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application vulnerability that can be leveraged for initial access and privilege escalation, making it a critical target for security hardening efforts.