CVE-2025-25098
📋 TL;DR
This stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WordPress Links in Captions plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages that persist across sessions. When exploited, it enables attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users, or perform actions on their behalf. WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Links in Captions 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, or redirect all visitors to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious scripts 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.
🎯 Exploit Status
Stored XSS typically requires some level of access to inject content, but once injected, affects all users viewing the compromised content.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.3 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Links in Captions' 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 vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily disable the Links in Captions plugin until patched version is available
wp plugin deactivate links-in-captions
Implement Content Security Policy
allAdd CSP headers to restrict script execution sources
Add to .htaccess: Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'"
Add to wp-config.php: header("Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'");
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove the Links in Captions plugin completely and use alternative solutions for caption linking
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads targeting this plugin
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins for 'Links in Captions' versionCheck Version:
wp plugin get links-in-captions --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.3 or higher in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to plugin endpoints
- Suspicious script tags in content submissions
Network Indicators:
- Malicious script payloads in HTTP requests to WordPress admin areas
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("links-in-captions" OR "caption") AND ("script" OR "javascript:" OR "onload=" OR "onerror=")