CVE-2025-60142
📋 TL;DR
This DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Simple Meta Tags WordPress plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. It affects all WordPress sites running Simple Meta Tags version 1.5 or earlier. Attackers could steal session cookies, redirect users, or perform actions on their behalf.
💻 Affected Systems
- Simple Meta Tags 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 steal administrator session cookies, gain full control of WordPress site, install backdoors, deface website, or steal sensitive user data.
Likely Case
Attackers steal user session cookies, redirect visitors to malicious sites, or perform limited actions within the compromised user's context.
If Mitigated
With proper Content Security Policy (CSP) headers and input validation, impact is limited to script execution within the specific vulnerable page context.
🎯 Exploit Status
DOM-based XSS requires user interaction or specific conditions to trigger. Attackers need to craft malicious input that gets reflected in DOM manipulation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.6 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Simple Meta Tags. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update, deactivate and delete plugin, then install fresh version 1.6+ from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Simple Meta Tags Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched version is available.
wp plugin deactivate simple-meta-tags
Implement Content Security Policy
allAdd CSP headers to limit script execution sources and prevent XSS payloads from running.
Add to .htaccess: Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'"
Or use WordPress CSP plugin
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable Simple Meta Tags plugin immediately
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Simple Meta Tags → Version. If version is 1.5 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get simple-meta-tags --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After update, verify Simple Meta Tags version is 1.6 or higher in WordPress plugins page.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to WordPress admin-ajax.php with script tags
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by plugin update attempts
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing <script> tags in query parameters or POST data
- Outbound connections to suspicious domains after visiting affected pages
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("simple-meta-tags" OR "admin-ajax.php") AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=")