CVE-2025-4803
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated WordPress administrators to perform PHP object injection via deserialization of untrusted input in the Glossary by WPPedia plugin. The impact depends on whether other plugins or themes with POP chains are installed on the system. Only WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of the Glossary by WPPedia plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Glossary by WPPedia – Best Glossary plugin for WordPress
⚠️ 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
If combined with a POP chain from another plugin/theme, attackers could achieve remote code execution, file deletion, or data exfiltration.
Likely Case
Limited impact due to requirement for administrator credentials and lack of known POP chains in the vulnerable plugin itself.
If Mitigated
No impact if proper access controls prevent unauthorized administrator access and no POP chain plugins/themes are installed.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires administrator credentials and depends on presence of POP chains from other plugins/themes.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 1.3.0
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wppedia
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Glossary by WPPedia'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and delete plugin, then install latest version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove vulnerable plugin
allDeactivate and delete the vulnerable plugin version
wp plugin deactivate wppedia
wp plugin delete wppedia
Restrict administrator access
allImplement strict access controls and monitoring for administrator accounts
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Deactivate the Glossary by WPPedia plugin immediately
- Audit and remove any plugins/themes that might contain POP chains
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Glossary by WPPedia → Version. If version is 1.3.0 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get wppedia --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is higher than 1.3.0 in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual administrator account activity
- POST requests containing 'posttypes' parameter to wppedia endpoints
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to WordPress admin-ajax.php or admin-post.php with serialized data in posttypes parameter
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (uri_path="*/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" OR uri_path="*/wp-admin/admin-post.php") AND http_method="POST" AND request_body LIKE "%posttypes%"🔗 References
- https://github.com/bfiessinger/wppedia/blob/1d0b8568349c9c9479372f845a812eb2aa4b3d09/core/classes/traits/trait-sanitizes-data.php#L64
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wppedia/tags/1.3.0/core/classes/class-options.php#L396
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wppedia/tags/1.3.0/core/classes/traits/trait-sanitizes-data.php#L64
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/53fb54bc-6eaa-4e99-a41c-e59a9bae81e5?source=cve
