CVE-2025-7035 in Media Library Assistant Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/16/2025
The Media Library Assistant plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's mla_tag_cloud and mla_term_list shortcodes in all versions up to, and including, 3.26 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user supplied attributes. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2025
The Media Library Assistant plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-7035 affecting versions through 3.26. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's mla_tag_cloud and mla_term_list shortcodes which are designed to display tag clouds and term lists from WordPress media library items. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate or encode user-supplied attributes before rendering them in web pages. Attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this weakness to inject malicious scripts that persist in the plugin's shortcode parameters, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it allows for persistent malicious code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows established patterns of stored XSS attacks where user input is directly embedded into web pages without proper sanitization. The mla_tag_cloud and mla_term_list shortcodes accept various attributes including taxonomy terms, display parameters, and formatting options that are processed and rendered without adequate validation. When these attributes contain malicious script code, the plugin fails to properly escape or sanitize the input before outputting it to web browsers, creating an environment where injected scripts execute in the context of the victim's browser. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-7035 extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with persistent access to compromised WordPress installations. Authenticated attackers with contributor permissions can inject malicious code that executes whenever any user accesses pages containing the vulnerable shortcodes, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further privilege escalation. The attack surface is broad since these shortcodes are commonly used throughout WordPress sites, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where contributors may have access to content management features. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that even if the initial injection is discovered and removed, the malicious code continues to execute for any user who accesses affected pages, creating ongoing security risks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from WordPress administrators and security teams. The primary solution involves updating to the latest version of the Media Library Assistant plugin where the input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms have been properly implemented. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as restricting contributor-level access to only essential functionality, monitoring shortcode usage patterns for suspicious activity, and implementing content security policies to limit script execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1213 which addresses credential access through web application vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting similar XSS vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes.