CVE-2025-57996
📋 TL;DR
This stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Buckets WordPress plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages. When exploited, these scripts execute in victims' browsers, potentially stealing session cookies or performing unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites using Buckets plugin versions up to 0.3.9 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Buckets 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 admin accounts, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious JavaScript 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 finding and exploiting the specific input validation flaw in the plugin's web page generation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 0.3.9
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/buckets/vulnerability/wordpress-buckets-plugin-0-3-9-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find Buckets plugin
4. Click 'Update Now' if update available
5. If no update available, deactivate and remove plugin
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Buckets Plugin
WordPressTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate buckets
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads
- Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for Buckets version ≤ 0.3.9Check Version:
wp plugin get buckets --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Buckets plugin version is > 0.3.9 in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to Buckets plugin endpoints with script tags
- Multiple failed XSS attempts in web server logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing <script> tags to Buckets plugin URLs
- Unexpected JavaScript payloads in HTTP traffic
SIEM Query:
source="web_server" AND ("buckets" OR "/wp-content/plugins/buckets/") AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")