CVE-2025-2802
📋 TL;DR
The LayoutBoxx WordPress plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes due to improper input validation. This vulnerability affects all WordPress sites using LayoutBoxx versions 0.3.1 and earlier. Attackers can leverage WordPress shortcodes to potentially execute malicious code or access restricted functionality.
💻 Affected Systems
- LayoutBoxx 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
Remote code execution leading to complete site compromise, data theft, or malware installation via malicious shortcodes that execute PHP code or system commands.
Likely Case
Unauthenticated attackers execute arbitrary shortcodes to access restricted content, modify site appearance, or leverage other vulnerable shortcodes for privilege escalation.
If Mitigated
Attackers can only execute benign shortcodes with limited impact if all other plugins have secure shortcode implementations.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability is straightforward to exploit as it involves sending crafted requests to trigger do_shortcode with attacker-controlled input.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 0.3.2 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/layoutboxx/#developers
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find LayoutBoxx and click 'Update Now' if available. 4. If no update appears, manually download version 0.3.2+ from WordPress.org and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable LayoutBoxx Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate layoutboxx
Web Application Firewall Rule
allBlock requests containing suspicious shortcode patterns targeting LayoutBoxx endpoints.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the LayoutBoxx plugin immediately via WordPress admin or command line.
- Implement strict WAF rules to block requests to LayoutBoxx endpoints and monitor for exploitation attempts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for LayoutBoxx version. If version is 0.3.1 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get layoutboxx --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, confirm LayoutBoxx version is 0.3.2 or later in WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to WordPress endpoints containing shortcode parameters
- Multiple failed shortcode execution attempts in WordPress debug logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with shortcode payloads to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or plugin-specific endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("do_shortcode" OR "layoutboxx") AND (status=500 OR method=POST)