CVE-2025-4172
📋 TL;DR
The VerticalResponse Newsletter Widget WordPress plugin has a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts into website pages. These scripts execute whenever users visit the compromised pages, potentially stealing credentials or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 1.6 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- VerticalResponse Newsletter Widget 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 credentials, take over the WordPress site, install backdoors, deface the website, or redirect visitors to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Attackers with contributor access inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies, perform phishing attacks, or redirect users to malicious content.
If Mitigated
With proper user access controls and content security policies, the impact is limited to potential data leakage from users visiting compromised pages.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is technically simple once access is obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 1.6
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/vertical-response-newsletter-widget/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find 'VerticalResponse Newsletter Widget'
4. Click 'Update Now' if update is available
5. If no update appears, deactivate and delete the plugin
6. Consider alternative newsletter plugins
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove Shortcode Usage
allRemove or disable the 'verticalresponse' shortcode from all posts and pages
Restrict User Roles
allTemporarily remove contributor-level access for untrusted users
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Deactivate and remove the VerticalResponse Newsletter Widget plugin immediately
- Implement Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins for 'VerticalResponse Newsletter Widget' version 1.6 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin list --name='vertical-response-newsletter-widget' --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is higher than 1.6 or plugin is completely removed📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual shortcode usage in post/page edits
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful contributor login
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected script tags in page responses containing 'verticalresponse' attributes
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (plugin="vertical-response-newsletter-widget" AND version<="1.6") OR (event="post_edit" AND content CONTAINS "[verticalresponse")