CVE-2025-46263
📋 TL;DR
This stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WordPress Author Box After Posts plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages. When exploited, these scripts execute in visitors' browsers, potentially stealing session cookies or redirecting users. WordPress sites using this plugin version 1.6 or earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Author Box After Posts 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 sites, deface content, or install backdoors for persistent access.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious scripts that steal user session data, redirect visitors to phishing sites, or display unwanted advertisements.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, malicious scripts would be neutralized before reaching users' browsers.
🎯 Exploit Status
Stored XSS vulnerabilities are commonly exploited, though specific exploit details for this CVE aren't publicly documented.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.7 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Author Box After Posts' and click 'Update Now'. 4. If no update is available, deactivate and delete the plugin.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the Author Box After Posts plugin until patched version is available.
wp plugin deactivate author-box-after-posts
Implement Content Security Policy
allAdd CSP headers to restrict script execution sources and mitigate XSS impact.
Add to .htaccess: Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'"
Or add to wp-config.php: header("Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'");
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads
- Restrict plugin access to trusted users only and monitor for suspicious input
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'Author Box After Posts' version 1.6 or earlier.Check Version:
wp plugin get author-box-after-posts --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.7 or later in WordPress admin panel, or check for absence of XSS payloads in author box content.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to author box endpoints
- Suspicious script tags in content submissions
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by content modifications
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections to unknown domains from user browsers
- Unexpected redirects from author box pages
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("author-box-after-posts" OR "author_box") AND ("script" OR "onerror" OR "javascript:")