CVE-2025-12651
📋 TL;DR
This stored XSS vulnerability in the Live Photos WordPress plugin allows authenticated attackers with contributor access or higher to inject malicious scripts into website pages. When users visit compromised pages, the scripts execute in their browsers, potentially stealing credentials or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 0.1 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Live Photos 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, deface websites, redirect users to malicious sites, or install backdoors for persistent access.
Likely Case
Attackers with contributor accounts inject malicious scripts that steal user session cookies or credentials when visitors view compromised pages.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output escaping, the vulnerability would be prevented, and only sanitized content would be displayed.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires contributor-level access or higher. The vulnerability is in shortcode parameters that lack proper sanitization.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 0.2 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/live-photos/tags/0.1/core/class-livephotos-shortcodes.php#L42
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Live Photos' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update, deactivate and delete plugin, then install latest version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the Live Photos plugin to prevent exploitation.
wp plugin deactivate live-photos
Restrict Contributor Access
allRemove contributor-level permissions from untrusted users until patched.
wp user list --role=contributor --field=ID
wp user set-role <user_id> subscriber
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads in shortcode parameters.
- Regularly audit user accounts and remove unnecessary contributor-level permissions.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for Live Photos plugin version 0.1 or earlier.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name=live-photos --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is 0.2 or later in WordPress admin panel or via 'wp plugin list' command.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests containing script tags in 'video_src', 'img_src', or 'class' parameters
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful contributor-level login
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections to suspicious domains from your WordPress server
- Unexpected JavaScript in HTTP responses containing livephotos_photo shortcode
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("video_src=" OR "img_src=" OR "class=") AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:")