CVE-2025-10178
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into website pages using the CM Business Directory plugin's 'cmbd_featured_image' shortcode. The scripts execute whenever users view the compromised pages, enabling session hijacking, defacement, or malware distribution. All WordPress sites using CM Business Directory plugin versions 1.5.2 and earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- CM Business Directory WordPress Plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers steal administrator credentials, take full control of the WordPress site, install backdoors, and compromise visitor data through session hijacking or malware distribution.
Likely Case
Site defacement, cookie/session theft from visitors, redirection to malicious sites, or injection of cryptocurrency miners.
If Mitigated
Limited to authenticated users only, with minimal impact if proper user access controls and content security policies are implemented.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access (contributor role or higher) and knowledge of WordPress shortcode usage. No public exploit code is currently available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 1.5.2
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/cm-business-directory/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'CM Business Directory' and check if update is available. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update is available. 5. If no update appears, manually download latest version from WordPress plugin repository and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Contributor Role Access
allTemporarily restrict contributor-level users from creating or editing posts until patch is applied.
Remove Shortcode Usage
allIdentify and remove all instances of 'cmbd_featured_image' shortcode from posts and pages.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent script execution from unauthorized sources
- Install Web Application Firewall (WAF) with XSS protection rules and regularly audit user-generated content
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins. If CM Business Directory version is 1.5.2 or earlier, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name='CM Business Directory' --field=version (if WP-CLI is installed)Verify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify plugin version is higher than 1.5.2 in WordPress admin panel. Test shortcode functionality to ensure proper sanitization.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests containing 'cmbd_featured_image' shortcode with script tags
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful contributor-level login
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections to unknown domains from WordPress pages
- Unexpected JavaScript payloads in HTTP responses
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("cmbd_featured_image" AND ("script" OR "javascript" OR "onerror"))🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/cm-business-directory/tags/1.5.2/frontend/cm-business-directory-business-page-sc.php#L289
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/cm-business-directory/trunk/frontend/cm-business-directory-business-page-sc.php#L289
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/cm-business-directory/trunk/frontend/cm-business-directory-business-page-sc.php?rev=3364840#L280
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/cm-business-directory/
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/2c1ecd71-57ed-44ba-a007-3b96b98d3bf7?source=cve
