CVE-2025-57920
📋 TL;DR
This stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WordPress Category Featured Images Extended plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages. When users view affected pages, the scripts execute in their browsers, potentially stealing credentials or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Category Featured Images Extended 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, deface content, or redirect visitors to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies or credentials, potentially compromising user accounts.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, malicious scripts would be neutralized before reaching users' browsers.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires the ability to create or modify category featured images with malicious payloads. Attackers typically need contributor-level access or higher.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.53 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Category Featured Images Extended'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download version 1.53+ from WordPress repository and replace the plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable plugin temporarily
allDeactivate the plugin until patched version is available
Implement Content Security Policy
allAdd CSP headers to restrict script execution sources
Add to .htaccess: Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'"
Or use WordPress CSP plugin
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict user roles that can modify category featured images to trusted administrators only
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads in image metadata
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for 'Category Featured Images Extended' versionCheck Version:
wp plugin list --name='category-featured-images-extended' --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.53 or higher in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to category image upload endpoints
- Suspicious JavaScript in category metadata fields
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected script tags in HTTP responses for category pages
- External script loads from category image pages
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("category-featured-images" OR "cfie") AND ("script" OR "javascript" OR "onerror" OR "onload")