CVE-2025-22711: Image Source Control Plugin XSS Flaw

CVE-2025-22711 Overview

CVE-2025-22711 is a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Thomas Maier Image Source Control (image-source-control-isc) WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation [CWE-79]. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that execute arbitrary JavaScript in the browser of any user who clicks the link. The issue affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.29.0. Successful exploitation requires user interaction but no authentication, and the scope change in the CVSS vector indicates impact extending beyond the vulnerable component.

Critical Impact

Reflected XSS enables session hijacking, credential theft, and administrative action forgery against authenticated WordPress users who interact with attacker-controlled links.

Affected Products

• Thomas Maier Image Source Control (image-source-control-isc) WordPress plugin
• All versions from n/a through 2.29.0
• WordPress sites with the Image Source Control Lite plugin installed

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-21 - CVE-2025-22711 published to NVD
• 2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-22711

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a reflected XSS issue classified under [CWE-79]. The Image Source Control plugin fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before reflecting it back into HTTP response content. An attacker constructs a URL containing JavaScript payloads in vulnerable request parameters. When a victim clicks the link, the unsanitized input is rendered in the page context, causing the browser to execute the injected script.

The CVSS vector indicates network attack reach, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and required user interaction. The scope change reflects that script execution in the victim's browser can affect resources beyond the vulnerable plugin, including authenticated session data and other WordPress administrative components.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing output encoding and input validation on parameters processed by the plugin during page rendering. User-controlled values flow into HTML, attribute, or script contexts without context-aware escaping such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses(). This allows attacker-supplied markup to be parsed and executed by the victim's browser.

Attack Vector

An attacker delivers a crafted URL through phishing, social media, or malicious advertising. The URL targets a vulnerable plugin endpoint and includes JavaScript in a reflected parameter. When an authenticated WordPress administrator clicks the link, the injected script runs with the user's session privileges. The attacker can exfiltrate session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the victim, or pivot to persistent compromise by creating administrative accounts.

No exploitation code is available in verified public repositories at this time. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for advisory details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22711

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to Image Source Control plugin endpoints containing URL-encoded <script>, javascript:, onerror=, or onload= substrings
• Web server access logs showing suspicious query parameters with HTML or JavaScript syntax targeting plugin routes
• Unexpected administrator account creation, plugin installation, or option changes following user clicks on external links

Detection Strategies

• Inspect WordPress access logs for reflected parameter patterns matching common XSS payloads such as %3Cscript%3E, alert(, or document.cookie
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set with OWASP CRS XSS signatures applied to requests reaching /wp-content/plugins/image-source-control-isc/
• Monitor browser-side Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports for inline script blocks originating from plugin pages

Monitoring Recommendations

• Track outbound requests from WordPress sessions to unfamiliar domains that may indicate cookie or token exfiltration
• Alert on WordPress user_register and set_user_role events tied to administrative sessions following anomalous referrers
• Audit installed plugin versions weekly and flag any host still running Image Source Control <= 2.29.0

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22711

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Image Source Control plugin to a version newer than 2.29.0 as soon as the vendor releases a fixed build
• Restrict WordPress administrator browsing to trusted links until patching is complete
• Force-logout active administrator sessions and rotate authentication cookies after upgrade

Patch Information

Review the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for vendor fix availability and version guidance. If no patched release is yet available, treat the plugin as actively vulnerable and apply compensating controls.

Workarounds

• Disable and remove the Image Source Control plugin until a patched release is installed
• Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that blocks inline scripts and restricts script sources to trusted origins
• Deploy a WAF rule that blocks XSS payload patterns in requests targeting plugin paths
• Require administrators to use separate browser profiles or sessions when accessing the WordPress admin panel

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking common XSS payloads on plugin paths
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /wp-content/plugins/image-source-control-isc/" \
    "id:1002271,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
    chain,msg:'Block XSS attempt against Image Source Control plugin'"
    SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(<script|javascript:|onerror=|onload=|document\.cookie)"