CVE-2025-8566
📋 TL;DR
The GutenBee WordPress plugin has a stored XSS vulnerability in its CountUp and Google Maps blocks. Authenticated attackers with Contributor access or higher can inject malicious scripts that execute when users view affected pages. This affects all WordPress sites using GutenBee versions up to 2.18.0.
💻 Affected Systems
- GutenBee – Gutenberg Blocks 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
Attackers could steal admin credentials, deface websites, redirect users to malicious sites, or install backdoors for persistent access.
Likely Case
Attackers inject malicious scripts to steal user session cookies, display phishing content, or redirect users to malicious sites.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and content review, impact is limited to potential defacement of specific pages.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires authenticated access with at least Contributor privileges. Exploitation involves injecting scripts via CountUp or Google Maps block parameters.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version 2.19.0 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/gutenbee/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find GutenBee plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update appears, manually download latest version from WordPress.org and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable blocks
allTemporarily disable CountUp and Google Maps blocks via plugin settings or code
Restrict user roles
allLimit Contributor and higher roles to trusted users only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution
- Use web application firewall (WAF) rules to block XSS payloads in block parameters
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for GutenBee version. If version is 2.18.0 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name=gutenbee --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify GutenBee version is 2.19.0 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with GutenBee block parameters containing script tags
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful Contributor-level login
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections to suspicious domains from your WordPress site
- Unexpected JavaScript payloads in HTTP requests to your site
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("gutenbee" OR "countup" OR "google-maps") AND ("script" OR "javascript:" OR "onload=" OR "onerror=")