CVE-2025-30776 Overview
CVE-2025-30776 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the webvitaly Sitekit WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions of Sitekit up to and including 1.8. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79.
An authenticated attacker with low privileges can inject malicious scripts that persist in the application. When other users, including administrators, view the affected pages, the payload executes in their browser context. The attack requires user interaction and can impact resources beyond the vulnerable component due to a scope change.
Critical Impact
Stored XSS allows session hijacking, credential theft, and administrative account takeover in WordPress sites running Sitekit 1.8 or earlier.
Affected Products
- webvitaly Sitekit WordPress plugin versions through 1.8
- WordPress installations using Sitekit for site management
- Any WordPress site where Sitekit is active and accessible to contributors or higher-privilege users
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-27 - CVE-2025-30776 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-30776
Vulnerability Analysis
The Sitekit plugin fails to sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. This allows an authenticated attacker to inject JavaScript payloads that are stored in the WordPress database. The payloads execute whenever another user loads the affected page.
Because the injected script runs in the victim's browser under the trusted origin of the WordPress site, it can access session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the victim, and manipulate DOM content. The scope change indicates the vulnerable component can affect resources outside its security boundary, such as administrative dashboards.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient output encoding when rendering stored plugin content. Input accepted through plugin settings or content fields is written to the database without neutralization. On rendering, the raw content is emitted into HTML context, enabling script execution. This is a textbook CWE-79 failure to encode HTML special characters.
Attack Vector
An attacker with valid low-privilege credentials submits a crafted payload containing HTML or JavaScript through a Sitekit input field. The payload is persisted server-side. When a privileged user, such as an administrator, visits the page displaying the injected content, the browser executes the script. The attacker can then exfiltrate authentication cookies, create new administrative users, or pivot to full site compromise. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30776
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, javascript: URIs, or event handler attributes stored in Sitekit-related database tables
- WordPress user accounts created outside of normal administrative workflows
- Outbound HTTP requests from browsers loading admin pages to unfamiliar external domains
- Modifications to plugin settings without a corresponding audit log entry
Detection Strategies
- Audit wp_options and Sitekit plugin tables for HTML markup or JavaScript payloads in fields expected to contain plain text
- Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to surface inline script execution attempts on admin pages
- Review web server access logs for POST requests to Sitekit endpoints containing encoded script fragments
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging to track content changes made by low-privilege accounts
- Monitor administrator session activity for anomalous API calls immediately after viewing plugin-managed pages
- Alert on new administrative user creation and role changes occurring outside change windows
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30776
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate the Sitekit plugin until a patched version is confirmed installed
- Review all Sitekit-managed content for injected scripts and remove malicious payloads
- Rotate credentials and invalidate active sessions for all administrator accounts
- Audit user accounts and remove any unauthorized administrator or editor entries
Patch Information
As of the last NVD update, the vulnerability affects Sitekit versions through 1.8. Consult the Patchstack advisory and the plugin vendor's WordPress.org page for the latest fixed release. Apply the update immediately once available.
Workarounds
- Restrict Sitekit administrative access to trusted users only and revoke contributor-level access where feasible
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule that blocks HTML and JavaScript payloads in Sitekit form parameters
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts on WordPress admin pages
- Uninstall Sitekit and replace it with an actively maintained alternative if no patch is available
# Disable the Sitekit plugin via WP-CLI as an immediate mitigation
wp plugin deactivate sitekit
# Verify the plugin status
wp plugin status sitekit
# Optional: fully remove the plugin
wp plugin uninstall sitekit
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
