CVE-2025-30559 in Kento Stats Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in NotFound Kento WordPress Stats allows Stored XSS. This issue affects Kento WordPress Stats: from n/a through 1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-30559 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the NotFound Kento WordPress Stats plugin, specifically targeting versions ranging from an unspecified initial state through version 1.1. This flaw resides in the improper neutralization of input during web page generation processes, creating a persistent security risk for WordPress installations utilizing this particular plugin. The vulnerability manifests as a stored XSS attack vector, meaning that malicious scripts can be permanently injected into the web application's database and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are rendered to users. The nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the purview of CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions or execute unauthorized commands. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it enables threat actors to manipulate the plugin's functionality and potentially access sensitive user data, including cookies and session tokens that could facilitate further exploitation. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on 'Modify System Image' and T1059.007 which covers 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript', indicating how attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to affected systems.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS vulnerability occurs when user input provided to the Kento WordPress Stats plugin is inadequately sanitized or escaped before being stored in the database and subsequently rendered in web pages. When the plugin processes user-supplied data through its statistical reporting features or administrative interfaces, it fails to properly validate or encode the input, allowing malicious payloads to be stored and executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that once malicious input is accepted and stored, it continues to execute whenever the affected plugin's reporting features are accessed, making it particularly dangerous for administrators and regular users who may unknowingly trigger the malicious code execution. The attack surface is significantly broadened by the fact that WordPress administrators typically trust plugin functionality and may not scrutinize input validation mechanisms within third-party components. The specific version range from an unspecified starting point through 1.1 indicates that this vulnerability has existed for an extended period, suggesting that numerous WordPress installations may be exposed to this risk without proper patching or mitigation measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-30559 extends far beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected WordPress environment. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal authentication cookies, or even inject backdoors for persistent access to the compromised system. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code remains active until explicitly removed from the database, providing attackers with extended time windows for exploitation. Security professionals must consider the potential for this vulnerability to be exploited in combination with other weaknesses within the WordPress ecosystem, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in a statistics plugin is particularly concerning as these components often have elevated privileges and may be accessed by administrators, creating opportunities for privilege escalation attacks. The lack of version specification for the initial affected state suggests that the vulnerability may have been present since the plugin's inception, indicating that long-term WordPress installations could be at risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-30559 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that have addressed the XSS vulnerability, as this represents the most direct and effective solution to prevent exploitation. System administrators must conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all installations utilizing the affected Kento WordPress Stats plugin and ensure that patches are applied promptly across all environments. Additionally, implementing input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities, as recommended by OWASP's secure coding practices and aligned with CWE-79's remediation guidelines. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block common XSS payload patterns, while also implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation issues, with particular attention to plugins that handle user input or generate dynamic content. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security practices and regularly updating third-party components, as the absence of patch management can leave systems exposed to well-documented attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns consistent with XSS exploitation attempts.