Overview
A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-13835, has been discovered in the Arconix Shortcodes WordPress plugin. This vulnerability allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, potentially compromising your website and its users. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and the steps you need to take to mitigate the risk. This issue affects Arconix Shortcodes versions up to and including 2.1.19.
Technical Details
CVE-2025-13835 is a Stored XSS vulnerability. This means that malicious JavaScript code can be injected into the WordPress database, typically through a vulnerable input field within the Arconix Shortcodes plugin. When a user (including administrators) views a page containing the compromised shortcode, the malicious script is executed in their browser. This occurs because the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input when generating web pages, enabling an attacker to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code. The injected code is then permanently stored in the database and executed every time the affected page is loaded.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) assigns this vulnerability a score of 6.5 (Medium). This score reflects the potential impact and exploitability of the vulnerability.
- CVSS Score: 6.5
- Severity: MEDIUM
A medium severity indicates that while the vulnerability is not immediately critical, it can still be exploited to cause significant harm if left unaddressed.
Possible Impact
A successful XSS attack can have severe consequences, including:
- Account Takeover: Attackers can steal user session cookies and gain unauthorized access to user accounts, including administrator accounts.
- Malware Distribution: The injected script can redirect users to malicious websites or silently download malware onto their computers.
- Defacement: Attackers can alter the appearance of your website, displaying misleading or harmful content.
- Data Theft: Sensitive data, such as login credentials or personal information, can be stolen.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The most effective way to mitigate this vulnerability is to update the Arconix Shortcodes plugin to a version that addresses the issue. Unfortunately, as of this writing, there is no newer version of the plugin available beyond 2.1.19. Therefore, you have the following options:
- Remove the plugin: The safest course of action is to completely remove the Arconix Shortcodes plugin from your WordPress installation if you are not actively using its shortcodes.
- Disable and Monitor: If the plugin is necessary, disable it immediately. If you absolutely must keep it installed, closely monitor your WordPress site for any unusual activity or signs of compromise. Consider using a web application firewall (WAF) with XSS protection rules to provide an additional layer of security.
- Consider Alternatives: Research alternative WordPress plugins that offer similar functionality and are actively maintained with a good security track record.
Important: After updating (or removing) the plugin, clear your website’s cache and browser cache to ensure that the changes take effect.
