CVE-2025-23795 Overview
CVE-2025-23795 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the ghuger Easy FAQs plugin for WordPress. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation [CWE-79]. Attackers with authenticated low-privilege access can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute in visitors' browsers.
The vulnerability affects all Easy FAQs versions up to and including 3.2.1. Successful exploitation requires user interaction and can result in session theft, redirection to malicious sites, or unauthorized actions performed in the context of an authenticated administrator.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can inject persistent JavaScript into FAQ content, executing arbitrary code in the browsers of site visitors and administrators.
Affected Products
- ghuger Easy FAQs WordPress plugin versions through 3.2.1
- WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin installed and activated
- Any user session interacting with FAQ pages rendered by the plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-16 - CVE-2025-23795 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-23795
Vulnerability Analysis
The Easy FAQs plugin fails to properly sanitize and encode user-supplied input before storing it in the WordPress database and rendering it in generated pages. This is a stored XSS condition, meaning malicious payloads persist server-side and execute automatically each time a victim loads the affected page.
The attack requires an authenticated user with at least contributor-level privileges to submit input. The scope-change indicator in the CVSS vector reflects that injected scripts execute in the browser context of any user viewing the FAQ output, including administrators. This broadens the blast radius beyond the attacker's own privilege boundary.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient output encoding in FAQ content rendering paths. Input passed through plugin form fields is stored without stripping or escaping HTML entities and JavaScript event handlers. When WordPress later renders FAQ posts or shortcodes, the raw payload is emitted into the DOM.
Attack Vector
An attacker with a low-privileged WordPress account submits FAQ content containing HTML tags such as <script> blocks, <img onerror=...>, or <svg> payloads. The plugin stores the payload verbatim. When a site visitor or administrator opens the FAQ page, the browser parses and executes the injected script.
Common post-exploitation actions include stealing session cookies, hijacking the WordPress admin session through forced AJAX requests to wp-admin endpoints, injecting cryptominers, or pivoting to full site takeover by creating new administrator accounts. No exploit code is publicly available in ExploitDB, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for additional advisory details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23795
Indicators of Compromise
- FAQ posts or custom post type entries containing <script>, onerror=, onload=, or javascript: strings in their content.
- Unexpected outbound requests from administrator browsers to unknown domains shortly after visiting FAQ pages.
- New WordPress administrator accounts created without a corresponding legitimate action in audit logs.
Detection Strategies
- Query the wp_posts table for entries with post types associated with Easy FAQs and search for HTML event handlers or script tags in the post_content field.
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to inspect POST requests to plugin endpoints for XSS payload patterns.
- Monitor browser Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports for inline script execution originating from FAQ pages.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress activity logging to track FAQ post creation and modification events by low-privileged users.
- Alert on privilege escalation events such as role changes or new administrator account creation.
- Review web server access logs for anomalous POST volume against admin-ajax.php and plugin editing endpoints.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23795
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites running Easy FAQs and confirm the installed version.
- Restrict FAQ authoring permissions to trusted accounts only until the plugin is updated.
- Audit existing FAQ content for injected scripts and remove any malicious entries.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the vulnerability affects Easy FAQs versions up to and including 3.2.1. Consult the Patchstack advisory for the latest fixed version and vendor guidance. Apply the patched release as soon as it is available through the WordPress plugin repository.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the Easy FAQs plugin until a patched version is deployed.
- Deploy a WAF ruleset that blocks XSS payloads in requests targeting FAQ post creation and editing endpoints.
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline JavaScript execution on public-facing pages.
- Review and reduce the number of accounts with contributor or higher privileges on the WordPress site.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
