CVE-2025-24615 Overview
CVE-2025-24615 is a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the fatcatapps Analytics Cat WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation [CWE-79]. Affected versions include Analytics Cat from n/a through 1.1.2. Attackers can craft malicious links that execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser when clicked. Successful exploitation can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized actions performed in the context of the targeted WordPress user.
Critical Impact
Attackers exploiting CVE-2025-24615 can execute arbitrary JavaScript in a WordPress administrator's browser, enabling account takeover and further site compromise through social engineering.
Affected Products
- fatcatapps Analytics Cat WordPress plugin (analytics-cat)
- All versions up to and including 1.1.2
- WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-14 - CVE CVE-2025-24615 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24615
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a Reflected XSS issue in the Analytics Cat plugin for WordPress. The plugin fails to sanitize and escape user-controlled input before reflecting it back into HTTP responses. When a victim clicks a crafted URL, the unsanitized input is rendered as part of the generated web page, causing the browser to execute attacker-supplied JavaScript.
The issue is classified under [CWE-79] (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation). The scope change indicated by the CVSS vector means executed scripts can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, including authenticated session cookies and DOM elements outside the plugin's context. The EPSS score reported on 2026-05-19 is 0.131% with a percentile of 32.029, indicating a relatively low probability of active exploitation at the time of measurement.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient output encoding of request parameters that the plugin reflects into administrative or front-end pages. WordPress provides functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses() that the plugin should use before echoing user data, but version 1.1.2 and earlier omit these protections for at least one input parameter.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a URL containing a malicious payload in a vulnerable parameter and delivers it through phishing, comment fields, or third-party sites. When an authenticated WordPress user — particularly an administrator — visits the link, the payload executes under the site's origin. The attacker can then steal authentication cookies, alter plugin settings, create rogue admin accounts, or pivot to other site compromises.
No working exploit code is published in the referenced advisory. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24615
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP request logs containing <script>, javascript:, onerror=, or HTML-encoded variants in query parameters directed at Analytics Cat plugin endpoints.
- Referer headers from external or unexpected domains immediately preceding administrative actions in WordPress.
- Unexpected creation of WordPress administrator accounts or modification of plugin configuration shortly after a user clicks an external link.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for requests to analytics-cat plugin paths that contain URL-encoded script tags or event handlers.
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set that flags reflected XSS patterns in query strings targeting /wp-admin/ and plugin routes.
- Correlate browser-side Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports with WordPress user sessions to surface attempted script execution.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor WordPress audit logs for privilege changes, new user creation, and plugin setting modifications by administrators.
- Track outbound requests from administrator browsers to unfamiliar domains that may indicate cookie exfiltration.
- Alert on installed plugin versions matching Analytics Cat <= 1.1.2 across managed WordPress fleets.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24615
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites running the Analytics Cat plugin and confirm the installed version against the vulnerable range.
- Update Analytics Cat to a version released after 1.1.2 once the vendor publishes a fix, or deactivate and remove the plugin if no patch is available.
- Force re-authentication for all WordPress administrators and rotate session keys defined in wp-config.php.
Patch Information
Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest patch status. Affected versions include all releases up to and including 1.1.2. Administrators should subscribe to Patchstack or the WordPress plugin repository to receive update notifications.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the Analytics Cat plugin until a fixed version is released.
- Implement a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) header that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources to trusted origins.
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ by IP allowlist or VPN to reduce the attack surface for reflected XSS targeting administrators.
- Educate administrators to avoid clicking unsolicited links that point to their own WordPress site.
# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block reflected XSS payloads targeting the plugin
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains analytics-cat" \
"chain,deny,status:403,id:1002461,msg:'Possible XSS targeting Analytics Cat plugin'"
SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(<script|javascript:|onerror=|onload=)" "t:urlDecodeUni,t:htmlEntityDecode"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
