CVE-2025-58826 in WP Publication Archive Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/05/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Eric Mann WP Publication Archive allows Stored XSS. This issue affects WP Publication Archive : from n/a through 3.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The CVE-2025-58826 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Eric Mann WP Publication Archive plugin, specifically targeting versions ranging from an unspecified initial version through 3.0.1. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The issue manifests as a stored XSS vulnerability, meaning that malicious scripts can be permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are accessed by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability occurs during the web page generation process when user input is improperly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in HTML output.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code through input fields that are then stored in the plugin's database or configuration. When other users access pages that display this stored content, their browsers execute the injected scripts within the context of their current session. This allows attackers to perform actions on behalf of victims, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or manipulate the application interface. The stored nature of this XSS means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-58826 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to completely compromise user accounts, especially if they can obtain administrative privileges through the stored script execution. The vulnerability affects WordPress environments where the WP Publication Archive plugin is installed, potentially impacting thousands of websites that have not yet updated to patched versions. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where WordPress is used for internal document management or publication systems, as it could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by updating the WP Publication Archive plugin to version 3.0.2 or higher, as this would address the improper input neutralization issue. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, which aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate credential access. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify any other potentially vulnerable plugins or themes. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources, though this should not be considered a substitute for proper input sanitization. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components in web applications and implementing comprehensive security testing practices that include both static and dynamic analysis of user input handling.