CVE-2025-7658 in Temporarily Hidden Content Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2025
The Temporarily Hidden Content plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'temphc-start' shortcode in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.6 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 • 07/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-7658 affects the Temporarily Hidden Content plugin for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This issue exists within all versions up to and including 1.0.6 of the plugin, making it a widespread concern for WordPress installations that utilize this particular plugin. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's 'temphc-start' shortcode implementation, which serves as the attack vector for malicious code injection. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied attributes before processing them within the plugin's functionality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple visitors over time. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing via Social Engineering, as it enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be executed in the context of victim browsers. The attack requires minimal privileges, as authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher can exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have varying levels of administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to establish persistent footholds within WordPress installations. When an authenticated user accesses a page containing the injected malicious code, the script executes in their browser context, potentially allowing for session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code persists in the database and will execute whenever any user views the affected page, creating a continuous threat vector that can be leveraged for extended periods. This persistent execution capability makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking long-term access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-7658 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input sanitization and output escaping deficiencies. Administrators should implement strict role-based access controls to limit the number of users with contributor-level privileges or higher, as this reduces the attack surface for exploitation. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies that restrict script execution within the WordPress environment, regularly monitoring for unauthorized changes to plugin files, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all installed plugins. The vulnerability's nature suggests that organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns that could indicate attempted exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other plugins or components of the WordPress ecosystem, as this type of input validation flaw is commonly found in poorly secured web applications.