CVE-2025-12976 – This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPre... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2025-12976?

CVE-2025-12976 has a CVSS score of 6.4 (MEDIUM). This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into website pages using the Events Manager plugin's 'events_list_grouped' shortcode. The scripts execute whenever users view the compromised pages, potentially stealing credentials or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using Events Manager plugin versions up to 7.2.2.1 are affected.

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress users with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into website pages using the Events Manager plugin's 'events_list_grouped' shortcode. The scripts execute whenever users view the compromised pages, potentially stealing credentials or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using Events Manager plugin versions up to 7.2.2.1 are affected.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

WordPress Events Manager plugin

Versions: All versions up to and including 7.2.2.1

Operating Systems: All

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires WordPress installation with Events Manager plugin enabled. Contributor-level or higher user account needed for exploitation.

⚠️ 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.

Recommended Actions:

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, deface pages, redirect users to malicious sites, or install backdoors for persistent access.

🟠

Likely Case

Attackers inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies, redirect users to phishing pages, or display unwanted advertisements.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper user role management and input validation, impact is limited to content defacement within contributor-level permissions.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: LOW

Exploitation requires authenticated access but is straightforward once attacker has contributor-level credentials.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: 7.2.2.2 or later

Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3413776/

Restart Required: No

Instructions:

1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Events Manager plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download latest version from WordPress plugin repository and manually update.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable plugin shortcode

all

Remove or disable the vulnerable 'events_list_grouped' shortcode functionality

Add to theme's functions.php: remove_shortcode('events_list_grouped');

Restrict user roles

all

Temporarily restrict contributor-level access until patch is applied

Use WordPress role management plugins to limit contributor permissions

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution
Use web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads in shortcode attributes

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins → Events Manager version. If version is 7.2.2.1 or lower, system is vulnerable.

Check Version:

wp plugin list --name='events-manager' --field=version

Verify Fix Applied:

After updating, verify plugin version shows 7.2.2.2 or higher in WordPress admin panel.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual shortcode usage in post/page edits
Multiple failed login attempts followed by contributor account login
JavaScript payloads in WordPress post content

Network Indicators:

Unusual outbound connections from WordPress site after page views
Data exfiltration patterns

SIEM Query:

source="wordpress" AND (event="post_updated" OR event="page_updated") AND (shortcode="events_list_grouped" OR content CONTAINS "<script>")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2025-12976

CVSS v3 Score: 6.4 (MEDIUM)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

CWE: CWE-79

EPSS Score: 0.05% exploit probability (14.2th percentile)

Published: December 18, 2025

Last Updated: December 18, 2025

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

📄 Export Markdown 📋 Export JSON

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

If you're affected by CVE-2025-12976, you might also want to check these: