CVE-2025-23768: InFunding WordPress Plugin XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-23768 Overview

CVE-2025-23768 is a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the InFunding WordPress plugin developed by inwavethemes. This vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of a victim's browser session.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this Reflected XSS vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in victims' browsers, potentially stealing session cookies, hijacking user accounts, or performing actions on behalf of authenticated users within WordPress installations using the vulnerable InFunding plugin.

Affected Products

• WordPress InFunding plugin version 1.0 and earlier
• All WordPress installations using vulnerable InFunding versions
• inwavethemes InFunding crowdfunding plugin

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-22 - CVE-2025-23768 published to NVD
• 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-23768

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation), commonly known as Cross-Site Scripting. The InFunding WordPress plugin fails to properly sanitize or encode user-controlled input before reflecting it back in HTTP responses.

Reflected XSS attacks require user interaction, typically through clicking a malicious link crafted by an attacker. When a victim clicks such a link containing the malicious payload, the vulnerable plugin reflects the unsanitized input directly into the page content, causing the injected script to execute within the victim's browser context.

The vulnerability affects the plugin's scope beyond the vulnerable component itself, meaning successful exploitation can impact resources and functionality outside the direct control of the InFunding plugin.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and output encoding within the InFunding plugin. User-supplied data is processed and rendered in the browser without proper sanitization, allowing HTML and JavaScript injection. WordPress plugins must implement rigorous input validation using functions like sanitize_text_field(), esc_html(), or esc_attr() to prevent XSS attacks.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2025-23768 is network-based, requiring no authentication but necessitating user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious URL containing JavaScript payload parameters targeting the vulnerable InFunding plugin endpoint. When an unsuspecting user clicks the link, the malicious script executes in their browser session.

The exploitation typically follows this pattern: the attacker identifies vulnerable input parameters, constructs a URL with embedded malicious JavaScript, distributes the link via phishing emails or malicious websites, and when victims click the link, the script executes with their session privileges.

For detailed technical analysis of this vulnerability, see the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23768

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual URL parameters containing encoded JavaScript or HTML tags in requests to WordPress sites
• Browser console errors or unexpected script execution on pages using InFunding functionality
• User reports of suspicious redirects or pop-ups when interacting with crowdfunding features
• Web server logs showing requests with suspicious payloads targeting InFunding endpoints

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common XSS patterns in URL parameters
• Monitor HTTP request logs for encoded script tags, event handlers, and JavaScript protocol handlers
• Deploy browser-based security controls like Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate script injection
• Use SentinelOne Singularity to detect post-exploitation behaviors following successful XSS attacks

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all WordPress plugin activity, particularly user input processing
• Configure alerting for anomalous patterns in URL query strings and form submissions
• Monitor for session hijacking indicators such as rapid session token reuse from different IP addresses
• Implement real-time scanning of HTTP responses for injected content patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23768

Immediate Actions Required

• Audit your WordPress installation to determine if the InFunding plugin is installed and active
• If the plugin is not essential, deactivate and remove it until a patched version is available
• Implement WAF rules to filter XSS payloads targeting known vulnerable parameters
• Review server access logs for evidence of exploitation attempts
• Educate users about the risks of clicking untrusted links

Patch Information

As of the last update, the vulnerability affects InFunding plugin version 1.0 and earlier. Check the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest remediation guidance and patch availability from inwavethemes. Plugin users should monitor for updates through the WordPress plugin repository.

Workarounds

• Disable the InFunding plugin temporarily if no patch is available and functionality is not critical
• Implement Content Security Policy headers to restrict inline script execution
• Deploy a WAF with XSS protection ruleset to filter malicious payloads
• Use output encoding libraries to sanitize any user-controlled data before rendering

# WordPress CLI command to deactivate vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate infunding

# Add Content Security Policy header in .htaccess (Apache)
Header set Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; style-src 'self' 'unsafe-inline'"