CVE-2025-13068
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into WordPress pages using the Telegram Bot & Channel plugin. When users visit compromised pages, the scripts execute in their browsers, potentially stealing credentials or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using vulnerable plugin versions are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Telegram Bot & Channel 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, redirect visitors to malicious sites, or use the compromised site for phishing campaigns.
Likely Case
Attackers will typically inject scripts to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or display fraudulent content. This could lead to account compromise and reputation damage.
If Mitigated
With proper web application firewalls and content security policies, script execution could be blocked, limiting impact to defacement or non-executing payloads.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability requires no authentication and exploitation is straightforward via Telegram username field manipulation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.2 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/telegram-bot/tags/4.2/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Telegram Bot & Channel' and click 'Update Now'. 4. Verify plugin version is 4.2 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate telegram-bot
Web Application Firewall Rule
linuxBlock XSS payloads targeting Telegram username field
ModSecurity rule: SecRule ARGS:telegram_username "@rx <script" "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'XSS attempt in Telegram plugin'"
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution
- Deploy web application firewall with XSS protection rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for 'Telegram Bot & Channel' version 4.1 or lowerCheck Version:
wp plugin get telegram-bot --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 4.2 or higher in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to WordPress admin-ajax.php with telegram_username parameter containing script tags
- Multiple failed XSS attempts in web server logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with script payloads in telegram_username parameter
- Unusual outbound connections from WordPress server after plugin access
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND ("telegram_username" AND ("<script" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror="))