CVE-2025-31615 Overview
CVE-2025-31615 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the owenr88 Simple Contact Forms WordPress plugin through version 1.6.4. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation [CWE-79]. An attacker can chain a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) flow with the XSS payload to inject malicious script content that persists in the application. The stored payload executes in the browser of any user who later renders the affected page, including administrators.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables script execution in the context of authenticated WordPress users, leading to session theft, account takeover, or unauthorized administrative actions.
Affected Products
- owenr88 Simple Contact Forms WordPress plugin
- All versions from initial release through 1.6.4
- WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-31 - CVE-2025-31615 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-31615
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Simple Contact Forms plugin's handling of input that flows into rendered web pages. The plugin fails to sanitize or encode user-controlled values before storing them and emitting them back into HTML output. This results in stored XSS, where the injected payload persists in the plugin's data store and executes whenever the affected interface is loaded.
The issue is compounded by a missing or insufficient CSRF protection on the affected administrative action. An attacker can craft a malicious page that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, silently submits a forged request that writes the XSS payload into plugin settings or form data. The vulnerability requires user interaction, consistent with the CSRF-to-XSS exploitation chain documented by Patchstack.
The scope-changing nature of the flaw allows the injected script to act beyond the plugin's own boundaries, affecting the broader WordPress administrative interface. The current EPSS probability is approximately 0.405%.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of output encoding on plugin-managed fields combined with weak request origin validation. Input accepted through plugin endpoints is written to persistent storage without sanitization. When the data is later rendered, it is emitted directly into the HTML response, allowing browser execution of injected <script> tags or event handlers.
Attack Vector
The attack is delivered over the network and requires the victim to interact with attacker-controlled content. A typical exploitation flow involves an attacker hosting a malicious web page containing a forged form submission targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoint. When an authenticated WordPress administrator visits this page, the browser submits the request using the victim's session cookies. The XSS payload is persisted by the plugin and executes on subsequent page loads.
No verified exploit code is publicly available for CVE-2025-31615.
Refer to the Patchstack advisory for technical details:
https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/simple-contact-forms/
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31615
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, onerror, or onload handlers stored in plugin configuration tables or form submission records
- Outbound HTTP requests from administrator browser sessions to unfamiliar domains shortly after loading WordPress admin pages
- Unauthorized changes to plugin settings or new administrator accounts created without corresponding audit log entries
- Referrer headers in WordPress access logs pointing to external attacker-controlled domains preceding state-changing plugin requests
Detection Strategies
- Inspect the WordPress database tables associated with Simple Contact Forms for HTML or JavaScript payloads in stored fields
- Review web server access logs for POST requests to plugin endpoints originating from cross-origin referrers
- Deploy a web application firewall rule set that flags HTML or script tokens in plugin parameter values
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging for plugin setting changes and form submissions
- Monitor browser console errors and Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports from administrative sessions
- Track plugin version inventory across WordPress deployments and alert on instances running 1.6.4 or earlier
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31615
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress installations with the Simple Contact Forms plugin and confirm the installed version
- Update the plugin to a version newer than 1.6.4 once a patched release is published by the maintainer
- If no patched version is available, deactivate and remove the plugin until a fix is released
- Audit existing plugin data and form submissions for previously injected payloads and remove malicious content
Patch Information
At the time of CVE publication, the vulnerability affects Simple Contact Forms through 1.6.4. Administrators should consult the Patchstack CSRF to XSS Vulnerability advisory for current patch availability and apply the vendor-supplied update.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to the WordPress admin interface using IP allowlisting or VPN-only access
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) that disallows inline scripts in WordPress admin pages
- Require administrators to log out of WordPress sessions before browsing untrusted sites to limit CSRF exposure
- Deploy a WAF rule that blocks HTML and JavaScript tokens in requests to the plugin's endpoints
# Example WordPress WP-CLI command to identify and remove the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin list --name=simple-contact-forms --field=version
wp plugin deactivate simple-contact-forms
wp plugin delete simple-contact-forms
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
