CVE-2025-14539
📋 TL;DR
The Shortcode Ajax WordPress plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes due to improper input validation. This vulnerability affects all WordPress sites using version 1.0 or earlier of this plugin. Attackers can leverage WordPress shortcodes to potentially perform unauthorized actions.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Shortcode Ajax 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 execute malicious shortcodes that perform actions like content injection, privilege escalation, or remote code execution if vulnerable shortcodes exist.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious shortcodes to deface websites, redirect users, or steal sensitive information displayed through shortcodes.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and shortcode sanitization, impact is limited to non-critical shortcode functionality.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires sending crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoint.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.0.1 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/shortcode-ajax/trunk/shortcode-ajax.php
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Shortcode Ajax' and update to latest version. 4. If no update available, deactivate and delete the plugin.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable plugin
allDeactivate the Shortcode Ajax plugin to prevent exploitation.
wp plugin deactivate shortcode-ajax
Restrict access to ajax endpoint
allBlock access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=shortcode_ajax via web application firewall.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall rules to block suspicious shortcode execution attempts
- Monitor and audit all shortcode usage and ajax requests for anomalies
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress plugin version: Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins and verify Shortcode Ajax version is 1.0 or earlier.Check Version:
wp plugin get shortcode-ajax --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is 1.0.1 or later, or plugin is deactivated/removed.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=shortcode_ajax
- Suspicious shortcode execution in WordPress debug logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with malicious shortcode parameters to WordPress ajax endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "admin-ajax.php" AND "shortcode_ajax" AND ("eval" OR "system" OR suspicious_patterns)