CVE-2025-24545 Overview
CVE-2025-24545 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the bsk-gravity-forms-custom-validation WordPress plugin by bannersky, also known as BSK Forms Validation. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation [CWE-79]. All plugin versions up to and including 1.7 are affected. An attacker can craft a malicious URL that, when clicked by an authenticated or unauthenticated user, executes arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser within the context of the vulnerable site.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser, leading to session theft, credential harvesting, defacement, or redirection to attacker-controlled infrastructure.
Affected Products
- bannersky BSK Forms Validation plugin for WordPress
- Plugin slug: bsk-gravity-forms-custom-validation
- Versions: from n/a through <= 1.7
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-03 - CVE-2025-24545 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24545
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a reflected XSS issue in the BSK Forms Validation plugin. The plugin accepts user-supplied input through HTTP request parameters and reflects that input back into the rendered HTML response without proper output encoding or sanitization. Because the reflected data is interpreted as HTML or JavaScript by the browser, an attacker can inject script payloads that execute in the victim's session context.
Exploitation requires user interaction. A target must click a crafted link or visit an attacker-controlled page that triggers the reflective request. The scope is changed, meaning the injected script may affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, including parent pages or administrative interfaces sharing the WordPress origin.
Root Cause
The plugin fails to apply context-aware output encoding when rendering values received from HTTP parameters. WordPress provides built-in functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses() for safe output. The plugin omits or misuses these functions on at least one input path through version 1.7, allowing raw HTML and script content to reach the response body.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication. An attacker constructs a URL containing a JavaScript payload in a vulnerable parameter and delivers it via phishing, social media, or compromised sites. When the victim clicks the link, the WordPress site reflects the payload into the response, and the browser executes it. The injected script can read cookies not marked HttpOnly, perform actions as the authenticated user, or stage further attacks against the WordPress administrator.
No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been verified for this CVE. See the Patchstack advisory for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24545
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP request logs containing URL parameters with encoded <script>, javascript:, or event handler strings such as onerror= and onload= targeting pages handled by the BSK Forms Validation plugin.
- Referrer headers in WordPress access logs originating from external phishing domains followed by requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoints.
- Browser console errors or Content Security Policy violation reports tied to the WordPress site origin.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress access logs for requests to bsk-gravity-forms-custom-validation paths containing reflected parameter values matching XSS payload patterns.
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set that flags request parameters containing HTML tags, JavaScript scheme URIs, or DOM event handler attributes.
- Run plugin inventory scans across WordPress estates to identify installations of BSK Forms Validation at version 1.7 or earlier.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WordPress and reverse proxy logs to a centralized analytics platform for query-based hunting on reflected XSS patterns.
- Alert on outbound browser requests to unfamiliar domains immediately after WordPress page loads, which may indicate a successful payload firing.
- Track plugin version changes through file integrity monitoring on the wp-content/plugins/ directory.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24545
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites running the BSK Forms Validation plugin and confirm the installed version.
- Disable or remove the plugin on any site running version 1.7 or earlier until a patched release is verified.
- Force a password reset for WordPress administrators if logs show suspicious reflected requests against the plugin.
Patch Information
At the time of NVD publication, the advisory lists affected versions through <= 1.7 with no fixed version explicitly stated. Monitor the Patchstack advisory and the official WordPress plugin repository for a patched release, and apply updates as soon as they are published.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the BSK Forms Validation plugin until a vendor patch is available.
- Deploy WAF signatures that block HTTP requests containing script tags, event handler attributes, or javascript: URIs targeting plugin endpoints.
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources to trusted origins.
- Set the HttpOnly and Secure flags on WordPress session cookies to limit the impact of any successful XSS payload.
# Example: disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate bsk-gravity-forms-custom-validation
wp plugin status bsk-gravity-forms-custom-validation
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
