CVE-2025-22741 Overview
CVE-2025-22741 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the RiceTheme Felan Framework WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.1.3. It stems from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation [CWE-79]. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when visited by an authenticated or unauthenticated user, execute arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.1 and requires user interaction over the network. Successful exploitation can lead to session theft, credential harvesting, and unauthorized actions performed under the victim's privileges.
Critical Impact
Reflected XSS enables attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in victim browsers, potentially compromising WordPress administrator sessions and pivoting to full site takeover.
Affected Products
- RiceTheme Felan Framework plugin for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 1.1.3
- WordPress sites using the Felan theme ecosystem
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-27 - CVE-2025-22741 published to NVD
- 2026-05-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-22741
Vulnerability Analysis
The Felan Framework plugin fails to sanitize user-supplied input before reflecting it back in HTTP responses. The vulnerability is classified as [CWE-79] Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. Reflected XSS occurs when a web application includes attacker-controlled data in a response without proper encoding or validation. The attacker delivers the malicious payload through a crafted URL, typically distributed via phishing or social engineering.
When a victim clicks the link, the browser executes the injected JavaScript within the security context of the vulnerable site. The scope change indicated in the CVSS vector means the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component to other browser contexts. Exploitation requires user interaction but no authentication, broadening the attacker pool.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient output encoding when the plugin renders parameters from the HTTP request into the response body. Input that should be treated as data is instead interpreted as executable markup by the browser. Without context-aware escaping at the point of output, any reflected parameter becomes an injection sink.
Attack Vector
An attacker constructs a URL containing a JavaScript payload in a vulnerable parameter handled by the Felan Framework. The attacker delivers the link to a target through email, chat, or a malicious site. When the target opens the link in a browser with an active session on the vulnerable WordPress site, the script executes with that session's privileges. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Analysis for technical specifics of the affected parameter.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22741
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP request logs containing URL parameters with <script>, javascript:, onerror=, or onload= patterns targeting Felan Framework endpoints.
- Unusual referer headers pointing to attacker-controlled domains preceding requests to the WordPress site.
- Unexpected outbound connections from administrator browsers to unfamiliar external hosts shortly after clicking links.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules that detect reflected XSS payloads in query strings and POST bodies.
- Inspect web server access logs for encoded script tags such as %3Cscript%3E or %3Cimg%20src%3D.
- Monitor Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports to identify attempted script injection events.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on administrator accounts performing privileged actions from anomalous IP addresses or user-agents.
- Track WordPress audit logs for unexpected plugin or user modifications following suspicious link clicks.
- Correlate browser exception telemetry with web server request logs to surface in-the-wild exploitation attempts.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22741
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress instances running RiceTheme Felan Framework version 1.1.3 or earlier.
- Restrict administrator access to the WordPress dashboard from trusted networks only until a patch is applied.
- Educate administrators and editors to avoid clicking unsolicited links referencing the WordPress site.
Patch Information
No fixed version is currently documented in the NVD entry. Monitor the Patchstack advisory and the RiceTheme vendor channels for an official update beyond version 1.1.3. Apply the patch immediately upon release.
Workarounds
- Deploy a WAF rule set that blocks common reflected XSS payloads targeting the Felan Framework parameters.
- Implement a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources to trusted origins.
- Temporarily disable the Felan Framework plugin if the affected functionality is not business-critical.
- Enforce HttpOnly and Secure flags on session cookies to limit the impact of script execution.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
