CVE-2025-60040 in wp-mpdf Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/26/2025
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in fkrauthan wp-mpdf allows Stored XSS. This issue affects wp-mpdf: from n/a through 3.9.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2025
The CVE-2025-60040 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the fkrauthan wp-mpdf plugin, which operates within wordpress environments and enables stored XSS attacks. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating a persistent security risk that allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw specifically manifests when user-supplied data is not properly neutralized before being rendered in web content, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of affected websites.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications that fail to properly validate or escape user input. This particular implementation allows for stored XSS attacks where malicious scripts persist in the application's database or storage mechanisms, making them executable every time the affected page is loaded or accessed. The vulnerability affects wp-mpdf versions ranging from an unspecified beginning point through version 3.9.1, indicating that all versions within this range are potentially compromised and susceptible to exploitation. The attack vector requires that an attacker can inject malicious input through the plugin's interface, which then gets stored and executed when other users view pages generated by the compromised plugin.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, and potentially gain administrative privileges if the affected users have elevated permissions. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious sites, harvest login credentials, or manipulate content displayed to users, fundamentally compromising the integrity and security of the affected wordpress installations. The vulnerability's presence in the wp-mpdf plugin suggests that document generation and PDF creation functionalities within wordpress environments are at risk, potentially affecting businesses and organizations that rely on automated document processing.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-60040 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as well as implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while also establishing regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or components. The remediation process must include thorough testing of updated versions to ensure that the XSS vulnerability is completely resolved without introducing new security issues. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1566 for social engineering attacks that leverage XSS to compromise user sessions and data. Security teams should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security training for administrators to minimize the impact of potential exploitation attempts.