CVE-2025-8317 in Custom Word Cloud Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2025
The Custom Word Cloud plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the ‘angle’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 0.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. 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 • 08/05/2025
The Custom Word Cloud plugin for WordPress presents a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-8317 affecting versions up to and including 0.3. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's handling of the 'angle' parameter. The flaw allows authenticated attackers who possess Contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever affected pages are accessed by other users. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's parameter validation processes, creating an attack vector where malicious code can be stored and later executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of user-supplied input in the 'angle' parameter which is used to control word cloud visualization properties. When an authenticated user with sufficient privileges submits malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to adequately sanitize the data before storing it in the database. This stored data is then retrieved and rendered without proper output escaping, creating a classic stored XSS scenario where the malicious script executes in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only Contributor-level privileges, which many WordPress sites grant to users who contribute content but may not fully understand security implications.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browsers of other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists until manually removed from the database, allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to victim systems. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on modifying existing programs. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as attackers can potentially exploit this to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to the WordPress installation.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to the latest version of the Custom Word Cloud plugin where this vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should implement additional security measures including input validation, output escaping, and regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper parameter validation and sanitization in web applications, particularly for plugins that handle user input. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual plugin activity, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only trusted users have Contributor-level privileges or higher. Regular security assessments of WordPress installations should include comprehensive plugin vulnerability scanning to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios.