CVE-2025-13068: Telegram Bot & Channel Plugin XSS Flaw

CVE-2025-13068 Overview

CVE-2025-13068 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Telegram Bot & Channel plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 4.1. It exists because the plugin fails to sanitize input and escape output for the Telegram username field.

Unauthenticated attackers can inject arbitrary JavaScript that executes when any user views an affected page. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-79] (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation).

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute in the browser context of any visitor, enabling session theft, administrative account takeover, and arbitrary actions performed in the victim's WordPress session.

Affected Products

Telegram Bot & Channel plugin for WordPress — all versions through 4.1
WordPress sites with the plugin installed and active
Any administrative or visitor session interacting with affected pages

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-25 - CVE-2025-13068 published to NVD
2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-13068

Vulnerability Analysis

The Telegram Bot & Channel plugin renders the Telegram username field without applying proper sanitization on input or escaping on output. The vulnerable rendering path is referenced in the plugin source at columns.php line 45 in tag 4.1.

Because the plugin accepts and stores attacker-controlled values that later flow into HTML output unescaped, an attacker can store JavaScript payloads that execute in the browser of any user who loads the rendered page. The scope is changed (S:C in the CVSS vector), meaning impact extends beyond the vulnerable component to the browsing user's session and DOM.

The attack requires no authentication and no user interaction beyond visiting a page that displays the injected value.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input sanitization combined with absent output escaping on the Telegram username field. WordPress provides functions such as sanitize_text_field() for input and esc_html() or esc_attr() for output, but the plugin does not apply them on the affected code path in columns.php.

Attack Vector

An unauthenticated attacker submits a crafted Telegram username containing HTML or JavaScript markup. The plugin stores the value and renders it on plugin-managed pages. When an administrator or visitor loads the page, the browser parses the injected <script> tag or event handler and executes the payload under the site's origin.

No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis and the WordPress Plugin Code Reference for technical details on the affected code path.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-13068

Indicators of Compromise

Telegram username values in plugin database tables containing <script>, onerror=, onload=, or javascript: strings
Unexpected outbound requests from administrator browsers to attacker-controlled domains after viewing plugin admin pages
New or modified WordPress administrator accounts created shortly after staff viewed plugin-managed pages
Anomalous cookie or session token exfiltration patterns in web server or proxy logs

Detection Strategies

Query the WordPress database for stored username fields containing HTML tags or JavaScript event attributes
Inspect rendered HTML from plugin pages for unescaped angle brackets in Telegram username output
Review web access logs for POST requests to plugin endpoints submitting username payloads containing script syntax
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that flags requests containing common XSS payloads targeting plugin endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor for new WordPress administrator account creation and unexpected role changes
Alert on Content Security Policy (CSP) violations reported by browsers loading admin pages
Track plugin file integrity and watch for modifications to columns.php and related templates
Correlate browser exfiltration patterns with administrator visits to plugin dashboards

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13068

Immediate Actions Required

Deactivate the Telegram Bot & Channel plugin until a patched version is installed
Audit the plugin database tables and remove any stored Telegram username values containing HTML or script content
Review WordPress administrator accounts and revoke any unauthorized users created since the plugin was installed
Force a password reset and session invalidation for all administrative users

Patch Information

At the time of NVD publication, all versions through 4.1 are affected. Review the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis for the latest patched version and upgrade guidance. Apply the vendor update as soon as it is released.

Workarounds

Remove or deactivate the plugin if a patched release is not yet available
Restrict access to plugin admin pages using WordPress role management and IP allowlisting at the web server
Deploy a WAF rule blocking script tags, event handler attributes, and javascript: URIs in POST parameters targeting plugin endpoints
Implement a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) header that disallows inline scripts on WordPress admin pages

bash

# Example nginx WAF-style rule to block obvious XSS payloads on plugin endpoints
location ~ /wp-content/plugins/telegram-bot/ {
    if ($request_body ~* "(<script|onerror=|onload=|javascript:)") {
        return 403;
    }
}

# Example CSP header for WordPress admin
add_header Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'self';" always;