CVE-2025-3794 in WPForms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2025
The WPForms – Easy Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Surveys, & More plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the start_timestamp parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.9.5 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-3794 affects the WPForms plugin for WordPress, a widely used contact form builder that enables users to create various types of forms including surveys and payment forms. This particular flaw exists in versions up to and including 1.9.5, representing a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this plugin. The vulnerability manifests as a stored cross-site scripting issue that specifically targets the start_timestamp parameter within the plugin's functionality, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and execute malicious code.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher submit data containing malicious scripts through the start_timestamp parameter, the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize this input before storing it in the database. This stored malicious content then gets executed whenever any user accesses pages containing the injected script, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and represents a classic case of stored XSS where the malicious payload is stored server-side rather than being reflected in a single request.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive user data, and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. Contributors and higher-level users typically have access to form creation, editing, and management capabilities, making this attack vector particularly dangerous as it requires minimal privilege escalation to exploit. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially accessing confidential form submissions, user credentials, or other sensitive information stored within the WordPress system. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly challenging to detect and remediate.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-3794 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures to ensure all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being stored or processed, particularly for parameters like start_timestamp that handle timestamp data. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious script injection patterns, and security headers including Content Security Policy should be implemented to limit script execution capabilities. Additionally, administrators should conduct regular security audits of WordPress plugins, enforce the principle of least privilege for user accounts, and maintain comprehensive backup strategies to enable quick recovery from potential compromise scenarios. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of proper input validation and output escaping practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to client-side attacks and credential access through web application vulnerabilities.