CVE-2025-68885 in Custom Post Status Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2025
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Page Carbajal Custom Post Status allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Custom Post Status: from n/a through 1.1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Page Carbajal Custom Post Status WordPress plugin that combines cross-site request forgery with stored cross-site scripting capabilities. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user input and form submissions, creating a dangerous attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of authenticated users. The issue affects all versions from the initial release through version 1.1.0, indicating a long-standing flaw that has remained unpatched for an extended period. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to bypass standard security measures that protect against CSRF attacks while simultaneously enabling persistent XSS payloads that can affect multiple users over time.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interfaces. When users interact with the plugin's forms or submission endpoints, the application fails to properly verify the authenticity of requests or sanitize user-supplied data before storing it in the database. This creates an environment where malicious input can be stored and subsequently executed whenever the affected page is loaded, providing attackers with a persistent foothold in the target system. The combination of CSRF and XSS elements means that attackers can not only manipulate the application's behavior but also inject malicious scripts that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352 for CSRF and CWE-79 for XSS, representing a compound security weakness that amplifies the potential impact of exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or service disruption, as it provides attackers with a sophisticated means of maintaining persistence within compromised systems. Once exploited, the stored XSS payload can be triggered whenever any user accesses the affected pages, potentially affecting administrators or other privileged users who may interact with the plugin's functionality. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can monitor user activities, capture sensitive information, or escalate privileges through the execution of malicious scripts. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used WordPress plugin means that it could affect numerous websites, particularly those that rely on custom post status functionality for content management. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to administrative panels, modify content, or establish backdoors for continued access. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, as the stored XSS can be used to harvest authentication tokens and session information.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the vulnerable plugin to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability, as well as implementing additional security controls such as Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Administrators should also consider implementing additional input validation measures, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for suspicious activities in the administrative interfaces. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the need for comprehensive testing of third-party plugins before deployment in production environments. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all users receive regular security training to recognize potential social engineering attempts that could exploit this vulnerability.