CVE-2025-31610
📋 TL;DR
This stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in WordPress Notification Bar plugins allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute when other users view affected pages. It affects all WordPress sites using Notification Bar, Sticky Notification Bar, or Sticky Welcome Bar plugins version 1.1 or earlier. The vulnerability enables attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users, or perform actions on their behalf.
💻 Affected Systems
- Notification Bar
- Sticky Notification Bar
- Sticky Welcome Bar for any theme
⚠️ 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 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 execution, preventing exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Stored XSS vulnerabilities are commonly exploited. While no public PoC is confirmed, the vulnerability type is well-understood and easily weaponized.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 1.1
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Locate the affected notification bar plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update is available. 5. If no update is available, deactivate and delete the plugin.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable affected plugins
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugins until patched versions are available
wp plugin deactivate gp-notification-bar
wp plugin deactivate sticky-notification-bar
wp plugin deactivate sticky-welcome-bar
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'"
Or add to WordPress functions.php: header("Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'");
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove the affected plugins completely and use alternative notification solutions
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads in plugin inputs
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin > Plugins > Installed Plugins for Notification Bar, Sticky Notification Bar, or Sticky Welcome Bar plugins with version 1.1 or lowerCheck Version:
wp plugin list --name='*notification*' --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is higher than 1.1 or plugin is removed. Test by attempting to inject basic XSS payloads into notification bar fields.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to notification bar admin endpoints
- JavaScript payloads in notification content fields
- Multiple failed XSS attempts in web server logs
Network Indicators:
- Suspicious JavaScript in HTTP POST data to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or plugin endpoints
- Unexpected external script loads from notification bar content
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND ("notification-bar" OR "gp-notification") AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")