CVE-2025-14888
📋 TL;DR
This stored XSS vulnerability in the Simple User Meta Editor WordPress plugin allows authenticated administrators to inject malicious scripts into user meta fields. The scripts execute when users view affected pages, potentially compromising their browsers. Only WordPress multi-site installations and sites with unfiltered_html disabled are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Simple User Meta Editor 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
Administrator account compromise leading to site takeover, credential theft from users, or malware distribution to visitors.
Likely Case
Limited session hijacking or defacement since it requires admin-level access and specific configurations.
If Mitigated
No impact if unfiltered_html is enabled (WordPress default) or on single-site installations.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires administrator-level WordPress access and specific site configurations to be exploitable.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.0.1 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/simple-user-meta-editor
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Simple User Meta Editor. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or delete and reinstall latest version. 5. Verify plugin version is 1.0.1 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Enable unfiltered_html capability
allEnable the unfiltered_html capability for administrators (WordPress default), which prevents this vulnerability.
Add to wp-config.php: define('ALLOW_UNFILTERED_UPLOADS', true);
Disable or remove plugin
linuxTemporarily disable or completely remove the vulnerable plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate simple-user-meta-editor
wp plugin delete simple-user-meta-editor
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict administrator accounts to trusted personnel only and implement strong authentication.
- Enable WordPress security plugins that detect and block XSS attempts in user content.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Simple User Meta Editor. If version is 1.0.0 or lower AND site is multi-site OR unfiltered_html is disabled, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get simple-user-meta-editor --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is 1.0.1 or higher in WordPress admin panel. Test by attempting to inject script in user meta field - it should be sanitized.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual modifications to user_meta database table
- Admin users saving suspicious script-like content in user fields
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected JavaScript loading from user-generated content pages
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (event="user_meta_update" AND data CONTAINS "<script>")