Overview
CVE-2025-11767 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Tips Shortcode plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to, and including, 0.2.1. It allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages or posts. When a user visits a page containing the injected script, the script will execute in their browser, potentially leading to account compromise, data theft, or other malicious actions.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping within the ‘tip’ shortcode of the Tips Shortcode plugin. Specifically, the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input passed to the shortcode’s parameters before rendering it on the page. This allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code directly into the output.
The vulnerable code is likely located within the plugin’s core functionality, responsible for handling the ‘tip’ shortcode. By crafting a malicious shortcode containing JavaScript, such as [tip] <script>alert('XSS')</script> [/tip], an attacker can inject this code into a post or page.
Example Shortcode Usage (Vulnerable):
[tip]This is a tip. <script>alert('XSS')</script>[/tip]CVSS Analysis
- CVSS Score: 6.4 (Medium)
- Vector String (Hypothetical): AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
The CVSS score reflects the moderate risk associated with this vulnerability. The vulnerability is network-accessible (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and can be exploited by authenticated users with contributor-level privileges (PR:L). User interaction is required (UI:R), as a user must visit the page containing the malicious script. The scope is changed (S:C) because the injected script executes within the context of the website, potentially affecting other users. The confidentiality (C:L) and integrity (I:L) impacts are low, while availability is not affected (A:N).
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can have several detrimental impacts:
- Account Takeover: An attacker could potentially steal administrator cookies or session information, leading to complete site takeover.
- Data Theft: Sensitive data displayed on the page could be stolen by the injected script.
- Malicious Redirects: Users could be redirected to phishing websites or other malicious domains.
- Website Defacement: The injected script could modify the content of the page, defacing the website.
- Malware Distribution: The attacker could use the injected script to distribute malware to website visitors.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The primary mitigation strategy is to update the Tips Shortcode plugin to a version that addresses this vulnerability. If an updated version is not available, consider the following:
- Disable the Plugin: If the plugin is not essential, disable it to prevent exploitation.
- Input Sanitization (If Possible): If you have access to the plugin’s code and understand PHP, implement proper input sanitization and output escaping. Use functions like
esc_attr(),esc_html(), andwp_kses_post()to sanitize and escape user input before displaying it on the page. Note: This is not recommended unless you are a skilled developer. - Restrict User Roles: Limit contributor-level access to trusted users only.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a WAF that can detect and block XSS attacks.
It is strongly advised to remove the plugin if there is no updated version available.
