CVE-2025-31017: Nav Menu Manager Stored XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-31017 Overview

CVE-2025-31017 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Robert Noakes Nav Menu Manager (noakes-menu-manager) plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 3.2.5. It is classified under [CWE-79], Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute in the browsers of users who view affected pages. Successful exploitation requires user interaction and can compromise session integrity, content, and availability across the impacted scope.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can store malicious scripts through the Nav Menu Manager plugin, enabling session theft, unauthorized actions, and content manipulation against site administrators and visitors.

Affected Products

Robert Noakes Nav Menu Manager (noakes-menu-manager) WordPress plugin
All versions from initial release through 3.2.5
WordPress sites with the plugin installed and active

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-09 - CVE-2025-31017 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-31017

Vulnerability Analysis

The Nav Menu Manager plugin fails to properly neutralize user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages. An authenticated user with permission to interact with the plugin's menu management functions can submit input containing HTML or JavaScript payloads. The plugin stores this input in the WordPress database without sufficient sanitization or output encoding.

When an administrator or site visitor loads a page that renders the affected menu content, the malicious script executes in the victim's browser context. Because the injected payload is persistent, every user who loads the affected view triggers execution without further attacker interaction. The scope change indicated by the vulnerability allows the injected script to affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, including the WordPress administrative interface.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input sanitization and output escaping in the plugin's menu management routines. WordPress provides functions such as sanitize_text_field(), wp_kses_post(), and esc_html() for handling untrusted input, but the plugin does not apply them consistently to fields rendered on the page.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the target WordPress site and authenticated access with low privileges. The attacker submits a crafted payload through a plugin field that lacks sanitization. A privileged user, typically an administrator, then loads a page that renders the payload, and the script executes with their session context. Refer to the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Report for advisory details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31017

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected <script>, <iframe>, or event handler attributes stored in WordPress wp_options, wp_postmeta, or plugin-specific tables related to Nav Menu Manager.
Outbound HTTP requests from administrator browsers to unfamiliar domains shortly after loading menu management pages.
New or modified administrator accounts created without corresponding audit log entries.

Detection Strategies

Audit stored menu configuration entries for HTML tags, JavaScript keywords, or encoded payloads such as onerror=, javascript:, or document.cookie.
Review WordPress access logs for POST requests to Nav Menu Manager endpoints originating from low-privileged accounts.
Compare installed plugin version against 3.2.5 across managed WordPress instances to inventory exposure.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable file integrity monitoring on WordPress installations, including plugin directories and the database.
Forward WordPress and web server logs to a centralized platform for correlation and retention.
Monitor administrator sessions for anomalous API calls, privilege changes, or plugin installations following menu edits.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31017

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress sites running the Nav Menu Manager plugin at version 3.2.5 or earlier.
Deactivate the plugin on affected sites until a patched version is confirmed available and installed.
Rotate administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if suspicious menu content is discovered.
Review recent administrator activity logs for unauthorized changes.

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the advisory indicates the vulnerability affects Nav Menu Manager through version 3.2.5. Site operators should consult the Patchstack advisory and the plugin's official listing on WordPress.org for the latest fixed release and upgrade guidance.

Workarounds

Restrict access to plugin management functions to trusted, fully privileged users only.
Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with rules that block common XSS payload patterns targeting WordPress plugin endpoints.
Apply Content Security Policy (CSP) headers that restrict inline script execution on WordPress administrative pages.
Remove the plugin entirely if it is not required for site operations.

bash

# Example: identify installed plugin version via WP-CLI
wp plugin get noakes-menu-manager --field=version

# Deactivate the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate noakes-menu-manager