CVE-2025-12753
📋 TL;DR
The Chart Expert WordPress plugin has a stored XSS vulnerability in the 'pmzez_chart' shortcode that allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into website pages. These scripts execute whenever users visit the compromised pages, potentially stealing credentials, session cookies, or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using Chart Expert plugin version 1.0 or earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Chart Expert 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, take over the WordPress site, install backdoors, deface the website, or redirect visitors to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Attackers with contributor access inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies, perform actions as logged-in users, or display phishing content.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and input validation, impact is limited to content-level manipulation by authorized users.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is technically simple once attacker has contributor-level credentials.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.1 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/chart-expert/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Chart Expert plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and delete plugin, then install fresh version 1.1+ from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Chart Expert Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched version is available
wp plugin deactivate chart-expert
Restrict User Roles
allLimit contributor-level access to trusted users only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads in shortcode attributes
- Remove 'pmzez_chart' shortcode usage from all posts/pages and disable plugin
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins for Chart Expert version 1.0 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin get chart-expert --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Chart Expert plugin version is 1.1 or later in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual shortcode modifications in post/page edits
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful contributor login
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected script tags in page responses containing 'pmzez_chart'
- Suspicious outbound connections from compromised pages
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("pmzez_chart" OR "chart-expert") AND ("update" OR "edit" OR "inject")