CVE-2025-14053: Wish To Go WordPress Plugin XSS Flaw

CVE-2025-14053 Overview

The Wish To Go plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) via shortcode attributes in all versions up to and including 0.5.2. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied attributes. This allows authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or above to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages that will execute whenever any user accesses an injected page.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further compromise of WordPress installations.

Affected Products

• Wish To Go WordPress Plugin version 0.5.2 and earlier
• WordPress installations with the vulnerable plugin activated
• Any website allowing Contributor-level or higher user access

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-07 - CVE-2025-14053 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14053

Vulnerability Analysis

This Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability exists within the shortcode handling functionality of the Wish To Go WordPress plugin. When the plugin processes shortcode attributes, it fails to properly sanitize user input before storing it and does not adequately escape output when rendering the content. This creates a persistent XSS condition where malicious JavaScript can be stored in the WordPress database and executed each time the affected page is loaded.

The attack requires authentication with at least Contributor-level privileges, which is a relatively low barrier in many WordPress environments where multiple users may have content creation capabilities. Once exploited, the injected scripts persist across sessions and affect all visitors to the compromised page.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation and insufficient output escaping (CWE-79) in the plugin's shortcode attribute handling. The vulnerable code at line 124 in wish-to-go.php does not implement proper sanitization functions such as esc_attr() or wp_kses() before rendering user-controlled data, allowing script injection through crafted shortcode parameters.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires authenticated access to the WordPress installation with at least Contributor-level privileges. An attacker creates or edits a post/page containing a Wish To Go shortcode with malicious JavaScript embedded in the shortcode attributes. When any user (including administrators) views the page, the malicious script executes in their browser context.

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting shortcode attributes that include event handlers or script tags. For example, an attacker could inject JavaScript that steals session cookies, performs actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirects visitors to malicious sites.

For detailed technical analysis of the vulnerable code, see the WordPress Plugin Source Code and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14053

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual JavaScript code within post content containing Wish To Go shortcodes
• Posts or pages modified by Contributor-level users containing suspicious shortcode attributes
• Browser console errors or unexpected script execution on pages using the plugin
• User reports of unexpected redirects or behavior when viewing specific pages

Detection Strategies

• Review WordPress post content for Wish To Go shortcodes containing JavaScript event handlers or <script> tags
• Audit user activity logs for Contributor-level accounts creating or modifying posts with the vulnerable shortcode
• Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to detect and block inline script execution
• Use web application firewalls (WAF) with XSS detection rules to identify injection attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable WordPress audit logging to track content modifications by authenticated users
• Monitor for new or modified posts containing the [wish-to-go] or related shortcodes
• Configure SentinelOne to alert on suspicious JavaScript injection patterns in web application traffic
• Review access logs for pages containing the vulnerable shortcode showing unusual referrer patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14053

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Wish To Go plugin to the latest patched version immediately
• Audit existing posts and pages for potentially injected malicious scripts in Wish To Go shortcodes
• Review and restrict Contributor-level access to trusted users only
• Consider temporarily deactivating the plugin until a patch is applied

Patch Information

Users should update to a patched version of the Wish To Go plugin as soon as one becomes available. Check the WordPress Plugin Directory for the latest version with security fixes applied. The patch should implement proper input sanitization using WordPress escaping functions such as esc_attr(), esc_html(), or wp_kses() on shortcode attribute values.

Workarounds

• Temporarily disable the Wish To Go plugin if no patch is available
• Restrict WordPress user roles to limit Contributor-level access to only highly trusted individuals
• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with XSS filtering rules to block malicious input
• Review and remove any existing malicious shortcode content from the WordPress database

# Configuration example
# WordPress wp-config.php hardening
# Disable file editing in WordPress admin to limit attack surface
define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

# Restrict user capabilities via functions.php
# Remove shortcode capability from contributors if needed
# add_filter('user_has_cap', 'restrict_shortcode_usage', 10, 3);