CVE-2025-31778
📋 TL;DR
This Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WordPress Donate Me plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. It affects all WordPress sites using Donate Me plugin versions up to 1.2.5. The vulnerability is reflected XSS, meaning the malicious input is immediately returned in the server's response.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Donate Me 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 admin accounts, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites, potentially leading to complete site compromise.
Likely Case
Attackers typically use this to steal user session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or deliver malware through the compromised WordPress site.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, the malicious scripts would be neutralized before reaching users, preventing any exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
XSS vulnerabilities are commonly exploited and require minimal technical skill. The vulnerability is reflected, making exploitation straightforward.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.2.6 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Donate Me' and click 'Update Now'. 4. Alternatively, download version 1.2.6+ from WordPress.org and manually replace the plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Donate Me Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patching is possible.
wp plugin deactivate donate-me
Implement WAF Rules
allConfigure web application firewall to block XSS payloads targeting Donate Me endpoints.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the Donate Me plugin immediately to eliminate the attack surface.
- Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate XSS impact.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for Donate Me version. If version is 1.2.5 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get donate-me --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify Donate Me plugin shows version 1.2.6 or higher in WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST/GET requests to Donate Me endpoints containing script tags or JavaScript code
- Multiple failed login attempts following suspicious requests
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing <script> tags or JavaScript payloads in parameters
- Unexpected redirects from Donate Me pages
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("donate-me" OR "donate_me") AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")