CVE-2025-13614: Cool Tag Cloud WordPress Plugin XSS Flaw

CVE-2025-13614 Overview

CVE-2025-13614 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Cool Tag Cloud plugin for WordPress. The flaw exists in the plugin's cool_tag_cloud shortcode in all versions up to and including 2.29. The plugin fails to sanitize input and escape output on user-supplied shortcode attributes [CWE-79]. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher can inject arbitrary web scripts into pages. The injected scripts execute in the browser of any user who visits an affected page.

Critical Impact
Authenticated contributors can inject persistent JavaScript that executes against administrators and site visitors, enabling session theft, account takeover, and arbitrary actions in the WordPress admin context.

Affected Products

Cool Tag Cloud plugin for WordPress — all versions up to and including 2.29
WordPress sites permitting contributor-level user registration
WordPress sites where the cool_tag_cloud shortcode is rendered to visitors or administrators

Discovery Timeline

2025-12-05 - CVE-2025-13614 published to NVD
2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-13614

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Cool Tag Cloud plugin's handling of the cool_tag_cloud shortcode. The plugin accepts user-supplied attributes through the shortcode and renders them into page output without sufficient sanitization or escaping. Any WordPress user with contributor permissions or higher can embed the shortcode in posts or pages with malicious attribute values. When the post is rendered, the attacker-controlled values are emitted into the HTML response, where the browser parses and executes them as script.

This is a stored XSS condition because the malicious payload persists in the WordPress database as post content. The payload executes each time a user, including site administrators, views the affected page. The attack vector is network-based and does not require user interaction beyond viewing the injected page.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input sanitization on shortcode attributes combined with missing output escaping when those attributes are rendered into HTML. WordPress provides esc_attr(), esc_html(), and wp_kses() helpers for this purpose, but the affected code path in cool-tag-cloud.php emits attribute values without applying them. The relevant source location is referenced in the WordPress Plugin Source Code.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker with contributor privileges creates or edits a post and inserts the cool_tag_cloud shortcode with crafted attribute values containing JavaScript. After the post is submitted and rendered, the injected script runs in the context of any viewer's session. An administrator previewing or moderating the contributor's submission becomes a high-value target, since the script executes with administrator session cookies and DOM access.

No verified exploit code is published. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-13614

Indicators of Compromise

Post or page content containing [cool_tag_cloud] shortcodes with attribute values that include <script>, onerror=, onload=, or javascript: strings
WordPress post revisions authored by contributor-role users that introduce the cool_tag_cloud shortcode
Unexpected outbound requests from administrator browsers to attacker-controlled domains after viewing pending submissions
New administrator accounts or modified user roles created shortly after a contributor submission was previewed

Detection Strategies

Query the wp_posts table for post_content containing cool_tag_cloud combined with suspicious attribute patterns
Review web server access logs for requests to pages containing the vulnerable shortcode that originate from administrator sessions
Inspect Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports for inline script execution on pages rendering the plugin

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor WordPress audit logs for contributor-role users creating or editing posts that include shortcodes
Alert on installations of Cool Tag Cloud at versions 2.29 or earlier across managed WordPress estates
Track administrator session activity for anomalous API calls following preview of contributor content

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13614

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Cool Tag Cloud plugin to a version newer than 2.29 once the maintainer publishes a patched release
Audit all contributor-level user accounts and remove or downgrade accounts that are not strictly required
Scan existing posts and pages for malicious cool_tag_cloud shortcode attributes and remove injected payloads

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no fixed version is referenced in the NVD record. Site administrators should monitor the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the plugin's WordPress.org listing for an updated release. Until a fix is available, deactivate the plugin on sites that accept contributor submissions.

Workarounds

Deactivate and remove the Cool Tag Cloud plugin until a patched version is released
Restrict user registration and limit contributor-role assignments to trusted accounts only
Deploy a web application firewall rule that blocks shortcode attribute values containing HTML script tags or event-handler attributes
Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline JavaScript on pages rendering plugin output

bash

# Example: locate posts containing the vulnerable shortcode
wp db query "SELECT ID, post_title, post_author FROM wp_posts \
  WHERE post_content LIKE '%cool_tag_cloud%' \
  AND post_status IN ('publish','pending','draft');"

# Example: deactivate the plugin until a patch ships
wp plugin deactivate cool-tag-cloud