CVE-2025-26880 Overview
CVE-2025-26880 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the SKT Skill Bar WordPress plugin developed by sonalsinha21. The flaw affects all versions of skt-skill-bar up to and including version 2.3. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, classified under [CWE-79]. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute in the browsers of users who view the affected pages. Because the injected script runs in a scope-changed context, the vulnerability can expose sensitive session data and enable actions on behalf of the victim.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can inject persistent JavaScript into WordPress pages rendered by the SKT Skill Bar plugin, leading to session compromise and defacement affecting site visitors and administrators.
Affected Products
- SKT Skill Bar WordPress Plugin (skt-skill-bar) versions up to and including 2.3
- WordPress installations with the vulnerable plugin activated
- Author: sonalsinha21
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-15 - CVE-2025-26880 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26880
Vulnerability Analysis
The SKT Skill Bar plugin accepts input from authenticated users through plugin-controlled fields but fails to sanitize or encode that input before rendering it in generated web pages. An attacker with contributor-level or similar low-privilege access can submit HTML or JavaScript content that the plugin stores in the WordPress database. When a subsequent visitor loads a page that renders the tainted content, the browser executes the injected script within the site's origin.
The scope change indicated by the CVSS vector reflects that impact extends beyond the vulnerable plugin to any user session interacting with the affected page. Stored XSS in WordPress plugins is a recurring attack surface because plugin authors often trust content produced by editorial roles.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of proper output escaping and input sanitization within the plugin's rendering paths. WordPress provides functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses_post() for context-aware sanitization, but the vulnerable code paths in skt-skill-bar versions through 2.3 do not consistently apply them. This produces a persistent injection primitive triggered on any page render.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires an authenticated session on the target WordPress site and user interaction to trigger the payload. The attacker submits a crafted payload through the plugin's input fields, such as skill bar titles or descriptions. The malicious content persists in the database. When an administrator or visitor loads a page displaying the affected component, the payload executes in their browser context, enabling cookie theft, forced administrative actions via existing sessions, or redirects to attacker-controlled infrastructure.
Refer to the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26880
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script>, <iframe>, or on* event handler content in wp_posts or plugin-specific database tables associated with skt-skill-bar.
- Outbound browser requests from authenticated admin sessions to unfamiliar external domains shortly after loading pages containing skill bar shortcodes.
- New or modified administrator accounts created without corresponding legitimate audit trail entries.
Detection Strategies
- Audit database contents for the plugin by querying post meta and options tables for HTML tags or JavaScript event attributes.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule to alert on POST requests containing script markup to plugin administrative endpoints.
- Review WordPress access logs for low-privilege users interacting with skill bar configuration endpoints followed by administrator page views.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable content security policy (CSP) reporting to capture blocked inline script executions on WordPress pages.
- Monitor plugin version inventory across WordPress deployments and flag any instance running skt-skill-bar version 2.3 or earlier.
- Log and review changes made by contributor and author role accounts, focusing on plugin-managed content.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26880
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate the SKT Skill Bar plugin on any WordPress installation running version 2.3 or earlier until a patched release is verified.
- Audit all existing skill bar content for injected scripts or suspicious HTML and remove tainted entries.
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if exploitation is suspected.
Patch Information
As of the last NVD update on 2026-06-17, no fixed version is listed in the referenced advisory. Monitor the Patchstack advisory and the plugin's WordPress.org listing for a security release addressing CVE-2025-26880.
Workarounds
- Restrict contributor, author, and editor role assignments to trusted users only while the plugin remains vulnerable.
- Deploy a WordPress-aware web application firewall to block XSS payloads targeting plugin endpoints.
- Implement a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts on pages rendering plugin output.
- Replace the plugin with a maintained alternative if a patch is not released in a reasonable timeframe.
# Configuration example: disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate skt-skill-bar
wp plugin status skt-skill-bar
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
