CVE-2025-13614
📋 TL;DR
The Cool Tag Cloud WordPress plugin has a stored XSS vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into web pages. These scripts execute whenever users visit the compromised pages, potentially stealing credentials or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 2.29 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Cool Tag Cloud 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 site, or redirect visitors to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious JavaScript to steal user session cookies, redirect users to phishing pages, or display unwanted advertisements.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls limiting contributor accounts and regular security monitoring, impact is limited to potential defacement or minor data exposure.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires contributor-level access or higher. The vulnerability is in the 'cool_tag_cloud' shortcode attribute handling.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.30 or later
Vendor Advisory: http://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/cool-tag-cloud/trunk/cool-tag-cloud.php?marks=798-799#L682
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find Cool Tag Cloud plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and delete plugin, then install fresh version 2.30+ from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the Cool Tag Cloud plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate cool-tag-cloud
Restrict Contributor Access
allRemove contributor-level users or restrict their permissions
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove all contributor-level user accounts or restrict to trusted users only
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads in shortcode attributes
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for Cool Tag Cloud version 2.29 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin list --name=cool-tag-cloud --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Cool Tag Cloud plugin version is 2.30 or higher in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to WordPress admin-ajax.php with cool_tag_cloud parameters
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful contributor-level login
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing JavaScript payloads in cool_tag_cloud shortcode attributes
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("cool_tag_cloud" OR "cool-tag-cloud") AND ("script" OR "javascript" OR "onerror" OR "onload")