CVE-2025-49305: Product Catalog Simple XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2025-49305 Overview

CVE-2025-49305 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the impleCode Product Catalog Simple WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.8.1 of the post-type-x component. Attackers with low-privileged authenticated access can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of other users, including administrators. The vulnerability is categorized under [CWE-79] for improper neutralization of input during web page generation.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute in the context of any user viewing affected catalog pages, enabling session theft, administrator account takeover, and delivery of secondary payloads.

Affected Products

impleCode Product Catalog Simple plugin for WordPress
The post-type-x component (all versions from n/a through 1.8.1)
WordPress sites where the plugin is installed and active

Discovery Timeline

2025-06-06 - CVE-2025-49305 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49305

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a stored XSS flaw within the Product Catalog Simple plugin developed by impleCode. User-supplied input processed by the post-type-x component is not properly neutralized before being rendered in HTML output. Attackers with contributor-level or similar low-privileged access can submit crafted input containing JavaScript. The payload is persisted server-side and executed each time a victim renders the affected page. Because the scope is changed per the CVSS vector, the impact reaches beyond the vulnerable component into the broader WordPress site context.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient output encoding when the plugin renders product catalog data supplied by authenticated users. WordPress functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses() are either omitted or applied incorrectly for the affected fields. This allows raw HTML and <script> content to reach the DOM of a rendered page.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an authenticated user with low privileges and involves user interaction from a victim who visits a page containing the stored payload. An attacker submits a product entry or associated field containing a JavaScript payload. When a site administrator or visitor views the affected content, the browser executes the injected script under the site's origin. Attackers can hijack sessions, exfiltrate authentication cookies, perform actions on behalf of administrators, or redirect users to malicious infrastructure.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Report for advisory details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49305

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected <script>, onerror=, onload=, or javascript: fragments stored in product catalog post metadata or wp_posts content
Outbound HTTP requests from administrator browsers to unfamiliar domains after visiting catalog pages
New or modified WordPress administrator accounts created shortly after catalog content changes
Unexpected plugin, theme, or wp_options modifications following contributor logins

Detection Strategies

Scan the WordPress database for HTML event handlers and <script> tags within Product Catalog Simple post types and meta fields
Review web server access logs for POST requests to /wp-admin/post.php and /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php from low-privileged accounts editing catalog entries
Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to surface inline script execution originating from affected pages

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert on privilege escalation events and new administrator role assignments
Monitor plugin file integrity and flag installations of the vulnerable post-type-x versions
Track authenticated session anomalies such as unusual geolocation or user-agent changes for administrator accounts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49305

Immediate Actions Required

Update the impleCode Product Catalog Simple plugin to a version later than 1.8.1 as soon as a fixed release is available from the vendor
Audit all product catalog entries and associated metadata for injected script content and remove any suspicious payloads
Rotate credentials and session tokens for administrator accounts that may have viewed compromised catalog pages
Review WordPress user roles and revoke unnecessary contributor or author privileges

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the advisory indicates all versions up to and including 1.8.1 are affected. Consult the Patchstack advisory and the impleCode plugin repository for the latest patched release and upgrade instructions.

Workarounds

Deactivate and remove the Product Catalog Simple plugin until a patched version is deployed
Restrict contributor and author role permissions so untrusted users cannot create or edit product catalog entries
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that blocks HTML and script payloads in requests targeting catalog editing endpoints
Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline script execution on WordPress admin and public pages

bash

# Example WordPress CLI commands to deactivate the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate post-type-x
wp plugin delete post-type-x

# Verify no residual catalog content contains script tags
wp db query "SELECT ID, post_title FROM wp_posts WHERE post_content LIKE '%<script%';"