CVE-2025-11821
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts via the 'woo_products_custom_tax' shortcode. The scripts are stored and execute whenever other users view affected pages, potentially compromising their browsers. All WordPress sites using the WooCommerce - Products By Custom Tax plugin up to version 2.2 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WooCommerce - Products By Custom Tax 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 could steal administrator credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, deface websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
Likely Case
Attackers with contributor access inject malicious scripts to steal session cookies or redirect users to phishing pages.
If Mitigated
With proper user access controls and content security policies, impact is limited to potential defacement or minor data leakage.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires contributor-level WordPress access. The vulnerability is in a publicly accessible shortcode handler.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-products-by-custom-tax/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'WooCommerce - Products By Custom Tax'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. If no update appears, manually download version 2.3+ from WordPress.org and replace the plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate woocommerce-products-by-custom-tax
Restrict user roles
allRemove contributor-level access from untrusted users
wp user list --role=contributor --field=ID
wp user set-role <user_id> subscriber
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution
- Regularly audit posts/pages for suspicious shortcode usage and remove contributor access
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check plugin version in WordPress admin under Plugins > Installed Plugins. If version is 2.2 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get woocommerce-products-by-custom-tax --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify plugin version shows 2.3 or higher in WordPress admin.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual shortcode usage in post/page edits
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful contributor login
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected script tags in page responses containing 'woo_products_custom_tax'
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "woo_products_custom_tax" AND ("shortcode" OR "script")🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/woocommerce-products-by-custom-tax/tags/2.2/public/class-woocommerce-products-by-custom-tax-public.php#L90
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-products-by-custom-tax/
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cbc26607-a588-4059-9a37-afede7c9e3f6?source=cve
