CVE-2025-53454
📋 TL;DR
This stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Ultimate WP Mail WordPress plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages. When users view pages containing the injected scripts, the attacker can steal session cookies, redirect users, or perform actions on their behalf. All WordPress sites using Ultimate WP Mail version 1.3.8 or earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Ultimate WP Mail 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 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 reaching users.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires the attacker to have some level of access to inject malicious scripts, but once injected, the XSS triggers automatically for all users viewing the affected page.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 1.3.8
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find Ultimate WP Mail. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. If no update is available, deactivate and delete the plugin, then install the latest version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Sanitization
allImplement proper input validation and output encoding in the plugin code to neutralize malicious scripts.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable or remove the Ultimate WP Mail plugin immediately.
- Implement a web application firewall (WAF) with XSS protection rules.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for Ultimate WP Mail version 1.3.8 or earlier.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name='ultimate-wp-mail' --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify the plugin version is higher than 1.3.8 in WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to plugin endpoints with script tags in parameters
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful admin login
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections to suspicious domains from your WordPress server
- Unexpected JavaScript execution in browser developer tools
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "ultimate-wp-mail" AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")