CVE-2025-2906 Overview
CVE-2025-2906 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Contempo Real Estate Core plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 3.6.3. It stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied shortcode attributes [CWE-79]. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher can inject arbitrary JavaScript into pages. The injected scripts execute in the browser of any user who visits the affected page.
Critical Impact
Authenticated contributors can store malicious JavaScript in pages, enabling session hijacking, credential theft, and administrative account takeover when higher-privileged users view the content.
Affected Products
- Contempo Real Estate Core plugin for WordPress
- Versions up to and including 3.6.3
- WP Pro Real Estate 7 theme deployments bundling the plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-01 - CVE-2025-2906 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-2906
Vulnerability Analysis
The Contempo Real Estate Core plugin exposes shortcodes that accept user-supplied attributes. The plugin fails to sanitize these attributes on input and does not escape them on output when the shortcode is rendered. An authenticated contributor can craft a post or page containing a shortcode where an attribute value carries an XSS payload. When the post is rendered, the payload is written into the response HTML and executed by the visitor's browser.
Stored XSS in WordPress plugins is particularly effective because the payload persists on the server. It executes automatically whenever a victim accesses the compromised page, including administrators reviewing pending contributor submissions.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing sanitization of shortcode attribute values combined with unsafe output rendering. WordPress shortcode APIs require developers to explicitly call functions such as esc_attr(), esc_html(), or wp_kses() on user-controlled attribute data. The affected shortcode handlers in Contempo Real Estate Core versions through 3.6.3 omit these calls, allowing raw HTML and JavaScript to reach the DOM.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires an authenticated account with at least contributor privileges on the target WordPress site. The attacker creates or edits a post containing a vulnerable shortcode with a malicious attribute payload. Once the post is published or previewed by a higher-privileged user, the JavaScript executes in that user's session context. Successful exploitation supports session theft, forced administrative actions via CSRF, and pivoting to full site takeover.
No verified public proof-of-concept code has been released. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-2906
Indicators of Compromise
- Post or page content containing shortcode attributes with <script>, onerror, onload, or javascript: payloads.
- New or modified WordPress posts authored by low-privileged contributor accounts that include unusual shortcode attributes.
- Unexpected outbound requests from administrator browsers to attacker-controlled domains after viewing plugin-rendered pages.
Detection Strategies
- Audit the wp_posts table for shortcode invocations of Contempo Real Estate Core with attribute values containing HTML tags or JavaScript event handlers.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that inspects shortcode attribute content on POST requests to wp-admin/post.php and admin-ajax.php.
- Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to surface inline script execution originating from plugin-rendered pages.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor WordPress audit logs for contributor accounts creating or editing posts that use Contempo Real Estate Core shortcodes.
- Alert on newly registered contributor accounts, particularly on sites where public registration is enabled.
- Track browser console errors and CSP violations reported from administrator sessions viewing pending posts.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-2906
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Contempo Real Estate Core to a version later than 3.6.3 once released by the vendor.
- Review contributor and author accounts, disabling any that are inactive or unrecognized.
- Audit existing posts and pages for suspicious shortcode attribute values and remove injected payloads.
- Rotate administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if exploitation is suspected.
Patch Information
Refer to the Contempo Themes Changelog for the latest plugin release and fix information. Confirm the installed version in the WordPress plugins dashboard after applying the update.
Workarounds
- Restrict contributor and author registration until the plugin is patched.
- Require editor-level review of all draft content before publication or preview by administrators.
- Deploy a WAF rule set that blocks HTML tags and JavaScript event handlers within shortcode attributes.
- Temporarily disable the Contempo Real Estate Core plugin on sites that do not require its shortcodes.
# Configuration example
# Restrict contributor role capabilities via WP-CLI until patched
wp cap remove contributor edit_posts
wp cap remove contributor publish_posts
# List installed version to verify patching
wp plugin get contempo-real-estate-core --field=version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.