CVE-2025-22642 Overview
CVE-2025-22642 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the rtowebsites Dynamic Conditions plugin for WordPress. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, classified under [CWE-79]. Attackers with low-privileged authenticated access can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute in the browsers of users who view affected pages. The issue affects Dynamic Conditions versions up to and including 1.7.4. Exploitation requires user interaction and can lead to session compromise, credential theft, and unauthorized actions within the WordPress environment.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can inject persistent JavaScript that executes in the context of site visitors and administrators, enabling account takeover and content manipulation.
Affected Products
- rtowebsites Dynamic Conditions plugin for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 1.7.4
- WordPress sites with the dynamicconditions plugin installed and active
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-04 - CVE-2025-22642 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-22642
Vulnerability Analysis
The Dynamic Conditions plugin extends WordPress and Elementor with conditional visibility logic for page elements. The plugin fails to sanitize input fields that accept condition values or configuration data before rendering them into the page output. This allows an authenticated user with contributor-level or higher privileges to store malicious script payloads inside plugin settings or content fields.
When a site visitor or administrator loads a page containing the poisoned condition, the browser parses the injected markup as executable JavaScript. The scope changed metric in the CVSS vector indicates that the injected script can act outside the vulnerable component's security boundary. This allows attackers to affect the wider WordPress session, including administrative interfaces.
Root Cause
The underlying defect is missing or insufficient output encoding of user-controlled input during HTML generation. The plugin trusts input passed through its condition configuration workflow and writes it into the DOM without applying WordPress sanitization helpers such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses_post().
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the WordPress admin interface and valid low-privileged credentials. The attacker submits a crafted payload through a Dynamic Conditions input field. Because the payload persists in the database, it executes each time a victim loads the affected page. Successful exploitation can hijack sessions, exfiltrate authentication cookies, perform actions as an administrator, or pivot to install additional malicious plugins.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently documented, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22642
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script>, onerror, onload, or javascript: strings stored within Dynamic Conditions configuration entries in the wp_postmeta or wp_options tables.
- Outbound HTTP requests from browsers to unfamiliar domains after loading pages that use Dynamic Conditions logic.
- New or modified WordPress administrator accounts created shortly after authenticated users interacted with plugin-managed pages.
Detection Strategies
- Audit database entries associated with the dynamicconditions plugin for HTML tags and JavaScript event handlers in fields that should contain plain text.
- Review WordPress access logs for POST requests to plugin endpoints originating from contributor or author accounts.
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that flags XSS payload signatures targeting plugin admin routes.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress activity logging to capture plugin setting changes and content edits performed by non-administrator accounts.
- Monitor for anomalous session cookie usage or administrative actions occurring outside normal working hours.
- Track plugin version inventory across managed WordPress deployments to identify installations still running 1.7.4 or earlier.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22642
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Dynamic Conditions plugin to a version later than 1.7.4 as soon as a patched release is available from the vendor.
- Restrict contributor, author, and editor account creation and rotate credentials for existing low-privileged accounts.
- Inspect existing plugin data for stored payloads and remove any malicious content before restoring normal operations.
Patch Information
The vulnerability affects Dynamic Conditions through version 1.7.4. Site administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the plugin's official update channel for the fixed release. Apply the update in a staging environment first and verify that conditional visibility rules continue to function as expected.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the Dynamic Conditions plugin until a patched version is installed.
- Enforce a Content Security Policy (CSP) that restricts inline script execution to reduce the impact of stored XSS payloads.
- Limit user roles that can create or edit content leveraging Dynamic Conditions to trusted administrators only.
# Configuration example: enforce a restrictive Content-Security-Policy header via .htaccess
Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; base-uri 'self'; frame-ancestors 'self'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.