CVE-2025-27319 Overview
CVE-2025-27319 is a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the ivan82 User List WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.5.1. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that inject arbitrary JavaScript into pages rendered by the plugin. The vulnerability falls under [CWE-79], improper neutralization of input during web page generation. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as clicking a crafted link, but no authentication is needed. Successful attacks can hijack sessions, steal credentials, or perform actions in the context of the victim's browser.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript in a victim's browser by tricking them into visiting a crafted URL targeting a vulnerable WordPress site.
Affected Products
- ivan82 User List WordPress plugin (user-list)
- All versions from n/a through 1.5.1
- WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-17 - CVE-2025-27319 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-27319
Vulnerability Analysis
The User List plugin fails to sanitize user-supplied input before reflecting it into HTML output. When a request parameter handled by the plugin contains script content, that content is rendered directly in the response page. The browser then executes the injected JavaScript in the context of the WordPress site's origin.
Reflected XSS in WordPress plugins typically affects admin or front-end pages where query parameters drive page rendering. The attack vector is network-based and does not require privileges, but it does require the victim to interact with a malicious link. Because the scope changes when script executes in a privileged session, an authenticated administrator clicking the link can have actions performed on their behalf.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing output encoding and input validation in the plugin's request handling code. Parameters are echoed into HTML without calls to WordPress sanitization functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses(). This allows raw <script> tags or event handler attributes to reach the rendered DOM.
Attack Vector
An attacker constructs a URL pointing to a vulnerable plugin endpoint with a malicious payload embedded in a query parameter. The attacker delivers the link through phishing, forum posts, or social media. When a logged-in WordPress user follows the link, the plugin reflects the payload and the browser executes it. The script can read cookies that are not marked HttpOnly, exfiltrate nonces, or submit authenticated requests to administrative endpoints.
No verified public exploit code is available. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-27319
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to WordPress URLs containing reflected User List plugin parameters with <script>, onerror=, onload=, or javascript: substrings
- Outbound requests from administrator browsers to attacker-controlled domains shortly after clicking external links
- Unexpected creation of WordPress administrator accounts or modification of plugin settings
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for query strings containing encoded or raw HTML/JavaScript syntax targeting User List plugin endpoints
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that blocks XSS payload patterns in parameters processed by the user-list plugin
- Monitor WordPress audit logs for privilege changes or content modifications correlated with administrator sessions
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to capture inline script execution attempts on WordPress pages
- Alert on referer headers from external domains landing on plugin-handled URLs containing suspicious characters
- Track plugin version inventory across WordPress installations to identify hosts still running 1.5.1 or earlier
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-27319
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the ivan82 User List plugin to a version newer than 1.5.1 once the vendor publishes a fix
- Deactivate and remove the plugin if no patched release is available and the functionality is not essential
- Force WordPress administrators to log out and rotate authentication cookies after remediation
Patch Information
No fixed version is listed in the available advisory data. Monitor the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report and the plugin's WordPress.org page for an updated release addressing CVE-2025-27319.
Workarounds
- Place the WordPress site behind a web application firewall configured to block reflected XSS payloads in request parameters
- Restrict access to plugin endpoints using server-level rules such as IP allowlists for administrative paths
- Apply a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and unknown script sources
- Train administrators to avoid clicking unsolicited links pointing to their own WordPress site
# Example: temporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate user-list
wp plugin delete user-list
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
