CVE-2025-46451 in Floating Social Bar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/24/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Syed Balkhi Floating Social Bar allows Stored XSS. This issue affects Floating Social Bar: from n/a through 1.1.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-46451 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the Syed Balkhi Floating Social Bar plugin, specifically classified as a stored XSS vulnerability according to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework under CWE-79. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages that are subsequently executed by other users, creating a persistent security threat that can affect multiple visitors over time. The vulnerability exists in versions ranging from n/a through 1.1.7, indicating that all releases within this range are susceptible to exploitation, with the absence of a specific starting version suggesting either an initial vulnerability or a documentation gap in the affected range.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process where user input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the browser. When users interact with the floating social bar functionality, their input data is processed and stored within the application's database or storage mechanisms. This stored data is then retrieved and displayed on subsequent page loads without adequate security measures to prevent script execution. The flaw allows attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code within social sharing parameters, profile information, or other user-controllable fields that are subsequently rendered on the page, creating a persistent threat vector that affects all users who view the compromised content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. Attackers can leverage this stored XSS vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, access sensitive information, modify content, or establish persistent backdoors within the affected web environment. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts remain active until manually removed from the system, potentially affecting thousands of users over extended periods. This vulnerability directly maps to several tactics within the MITRE ATT&CK framework including initial access through malicious content, privilege escalation via session manipulation, and persistence mechanisms that maintain long-term access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-46451 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin versions, with administrators monitoring for security updates from the vendor. Input validation and output encoding mechanisms must be implemented to sanitize all user-controllable data before storage or rendering, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped to prevent script execution. Web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader application ecosystem. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications to social bar configurations, with comprehensive logging of all user inputs and system changes to facilitate incident response activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and input sanitization techniques as outlined in industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and the CWE guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting attacks.