Overview
A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-12904, has been discovered in the SNORDIAN’s H5PxAPIkatchu plugin for WordPress. This flaw, a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability, affects all versions up to and including 0.4.17. It allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into pages, potentially compromising user accounts and website integrity. Immediate action is recommended to mitigate this risk.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides within the insert_data AJAX endpoint of the H5PxAPIkatchu plugin. Due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping, an unauthenticated attacker can send a crafted AJAX request containing malicious JavaScript code. This code is then stored in the WordPress database and rendered on pages utilizing the plugin. When a user views the affected page, the injected script executes in their browser context. This allows the attacker to perform actions on behalf of the user, such as stealing cookies, redirecting to phishing sites, or defacing the website. The lack of authentication required to trigger the vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous.
CVSS Analysis
This vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 7.2, indicating a HIGH severity. The CVSS vector is likely AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N, which translates to:
- Attack Vector (AV): Network (N) – The vulnerability can be exploited over a network.
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) – Exploitation is easily achievable.
- Privileges Required (PR): None (N) – No privileges are required to exploit the vulnerability.
- User Interaction (UI): Required (R) – User interaction is required (e.g., viewing a page containing the injected script).
- Scope (S): Changed (C) – An exploited vulnerability can affect resources beyond the security scope managed by the vulnerability authority.
- Confidentiality Impact (C): Low (L) – Limited confidentiality impact.
- Integrity Impact (I): Low (L) – Limited integrity impact.
- Availability Impact (A): None (N) – No impact on system availability.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-12904 can have several detrimental consequences:
- Account Compromise: Attackers can steal user cookies and session data, gaining unauthorized access to user accounts.
- Website Defacement: Malicious scripts can modify the website’s appearance or redirect users to malicious sites.
- Data Theft: Injected scripts could potentially steal sensitive information entered by users on the affected pages.
- Phishing Attacks: Attackers can inject phishing forms or redirect users to fake login pages to steal credentials.
- Malware Distribution: Compromised websites can be used to distribute malware to unsuspecting visitors.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To protect your WordPress site from CVE-2025-12904, follow these steps:
- Update the Plugin: The most important step is to update the H5PxAPIkatchu plugin to the latest version. The vulnerability has been patched in versions released after 0.4.17. Go to your WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to the “Plugins” section, and update the H5PxAPIkatchu plugin if an update is available.
- Check for Suspicious Content: Review pages and posts that utilize the H5PxAPIkatchu plugin for any unusual or unexpected JavaScript code. Remove any suspicious content immediately.
- Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF): Consider using a WAF to provide an additional layer of security against XSS attacks. WAFs can often detect and block malicious requests before they reach your WordPress site.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits of your WordPress site and plugins to identify and address potential vulnerabilities proactively.
