CVE-2025-23859
📋 TL;DR
This stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Daily Proverb 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 Daily Proverb versions up to 2.0.3 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Daily Proverb 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, install backdoors, deface websites, or redirect visitors to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious JavaScript that steals user session cookies or redirects visitors to phishing/malware sites when they view affected pages.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, malicious scripts are neutralized before reaching users, preventing exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Stored XSS vulnerabilities are commonly exploited, though specific exploit details for this CVE aren't publicly documented.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 2.0.3
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Daily Proverb plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and remove plugin, then install latest version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Sanitization Filter
allAdd custom filter to sanitize all user input before processing by Daily Proverb plugin
Add to theme's functions.php: add_filter('daily_proverb_input', 'wp_kses_post');
Content Security Policy
allImplement CSP header to restrict script execution sources
Add to .htaccess: Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'"
Or add to wp-config.php: header("Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'");
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable or remove the Daily Proverb plugin immediately
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins → Daily Proverb version. If version is 2.0.3 or earlier, you're vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name=daily-proverb --field=version (if WP-CLI installed) or check WordPress admin plugins pageVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify Daily Proverb version is higher than 2.0.3 in WordPress admin plugins page.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to Daily Proverb endpoints containing script tags or JavaScript
- Multiple failed XSS attempts in web server logs
- Unexpected script tags in database content fields
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing malicious script payloads to plugin endpoints
- Outbound connections to suspicious domains from user browsers after visiting affected pages
SIEM Query:
source="web_server_logs" AND (uri="*daily-proverb*" OR uri="*wp-content/plugins/daily-proverb*") AND (content="<script>" OR content="javascript:" OR content="onerror=" OR content="onload=")