CVE-2025-22749
📋 TL;DR
This stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the AwoThemes Social Media Engine WordPress plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages. When users view pages containing the injected scripts, the attacker can steal session cookies, redirect users, or perform actions on their behalf. All WordPress sites using Social Media Engine plugin versions up to 1.0.2 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- AwoThemes Social Media Engine 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 session cookies, take over WordPress sites, deface websites, install backdoors, or redirect users to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious JavaScript to steal user session cookies, potentially compromising user accounts and performing unauthorized actions.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, malicious scripts would be neutralized before reaching users, preventing exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
XSS vulnerabilities typically have low exploitation complexity, but this specific exploit may require authentication details not publicly available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.0.3 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Social Media Engine' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and delete plugin, then install fresh version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched version is available.
wp plugin deactivate social-media-engine
Content Security Policy
allImplement CSP headers to restrict script execution sources.
Add to .htaccess: Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'"
Add to nginx config: add_header Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'";
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads
- Disable user input fields that accept HTML/JavaScript in plugin settings
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for Social Media Engine version. If version is 1.0.2 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get social-media-engine --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After update, verify plugin version shows 1.0.3 or later in WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to plugin endpoints
- Suspicious JavaScript payloads in request parameters
- Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful login
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections after visiting specific pages
- Requests containing script tags or JavaScript functions in parameters
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("social-media-engine" OR "awo" OR "social_media") AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onload=" OR "onerror=")