CVE-2025-4652 in Broadstreet Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2025
The Broadstreet WordPress plugin before 1.51.8 does not sanitise and escape a parameter before outputting it back in the page, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting which could be used against high privilege users such as admin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-4652 affects the Broadstreet WordPress plugin version 1.51.8 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exposes systems to reflected cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's codebase, creating an exploitable condition that could compromise user sessions and system integrity. The issue specifically involves a parameter that is not adequately sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to users in web pages, making it susceptible to malicious script injection attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious URLs containing crafted script payloads that are then reflected back to users who click on these links. When high-privilege users such as administrators interact with these malicious links, the injected scripts execute in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script payload is reflected off the web server rather than being stored, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal setup from the attacker's perspective.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-4652 extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates potential pathways for attackers to compromise entire WordPress installations. Administrative users who inadvertently click on malicious links could have their sessions hijacked, allowing attackers to perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress admin panel. This includes modifying content, adding malicious users, installing backdoors, or extracting sensitive information from the database. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where multiple administrators access the same systems, as a single compromised session could provide attackers with broad access to the entire website infrastructure. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves the use of spearphishing attachments or links to gain initial access to target systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Broadstreet plugin to version 1.51.8 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization and escaping mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of their WordPress installations to identify any unauthorized plugin modifications or installations of vulnerable versions. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they may not prevent all instances of this particular vulnerability. Security administrators should also consider implementing content security policies that restrict script execution and limit the potential impact of successful XSS attacks. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure that all WordPress plugins and themes are up to date with the latest security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping practices in web application development, aligning with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards that emphasize the need for comprehensive sanitization of all user-controllable data before rendering it in web pages.