CVE-2025-49429 Overview
CVE-2025-49429 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Ryan Burnette Video Embeds plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of the video-embeds plugin up to and including 0.1.1. The issue stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, classified under [CWE-79].
An authenticated contributor-level user can inject malicious script payloads that persist in the database. Those payloads execute in the browsers of visitors and administrators who view the affected pages. Successful exploitation requires user interaction and low-privilege authentication.
Critical Impact
Stored XSS lets attackers execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of visiting users, enabling session theft, forced administrative actions, and site defacement.
Affected Products
- Ryan Burnette Video Embeds plugin for WordPress
- All versions up to and including 0.1.1
- WordPress sites with the video-embeds plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-06 - CVE-2025-49429 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-49429
Vulnerability Analysis
The Video Embeds plugin fails to sanitize and escape user-controlled input before rendering it inside generated HTML. When a low-privilege user submits crafted content through an affected input field, the plugin stores the raw payload and later returns it to the browser without encoding.
Because the payload persists, every subsequent visitor to the affected page triggers script execution. The vulnerability crosses a security boundary because injected scripts run in the site's origin, giving them access to session cookies and the WordPress REST API. The stored nature makes the flaw more impactful than reflected XSS because a single injection reaches many users.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing output encoding in the plugin's template rendering path. WordPress provides standard escaping helpers such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses_post() that should wrap any dynamic value before it is emitted into markup. The affected code paths in video-embeds up to version 0.1.1 accept attacker-controlled strings and inject them into HTML context without invoking these helpers.
Attack Vector
An attacker with contributor or higher privileges submits crafted input through the plugin's editing or shortcode interface. The malicious HTML or JavaScript is stored in the WordPress database as part of post or plugin metadata. When any user renders the affected page, the browser parses and executes the injected script under the site's origin.
The scope change component indicates that impact extends beyond the vulnerable component into the browsers of other users. See the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Advisory for advisory-level detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49429
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script>, <iframe>, or event-handler attributes (onerror, onload) stored in wp_posts or plugin option tables
- Outbound browser requests from site visitors to unfamiliar third-party domains after loading pages containing embedded videos
- New or modified WordPress administrator accounts created shortly after suspicious content submissions
- Contributor-level accounts submitting posts that contain HTML markup outside the expected video embed format
Detection Strategies
- Query the WordPress database for post content and plugin options containing <script, javascript:, or unusual event handlers associated with the video-embeds shortcode
- Review web server logs for POST requests to /wp-admin/post.php or /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php originating from low-privilege accounts
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set that inspects shortcode parameters for HTML tags and script payloads
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on creation or elevation of WordPress user roles, especially administrator promotions from contributor accounts
- Monitor browser Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports for inline script executions on pages using the plugin
- Track plugin version inventory across managed WordPress sites and flag any host running video-embeds at version 0.1.1 or earlier
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49429
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the Ryan Burnette Video Embeds plugin from any WordPress site running version 0.1.1 or earlier until a fixed release is confirmed
- Audit contributor and author accounts, disabling any that are unused or unverified
- Inspect existing posts and plugin metadata for stored script payloads and remove malicious content
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if compromise is suspected
Patch Information
No vendor patch is referenced in the NVD entry for versions above 0.1.1. Administrators should consult the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Advisory for the current remediation status and consider replacing the plugin with an actively maintained alternative.
Workarounds
- Restrict content submission privileges so that only trusted editors and administrators can publish posts using the plugin
- Deploy a WordPress-aware WAF with virtual patching rules covering the video-embeds plugin
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and unknown external script sources
- Remove the plugin entirely and use a supported video embedding solution if timely maintenance is unavailable
# Configuration example: locate and disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin list --name=video-embeds --fields=name,status,version
wp plugin deactivate video-embeds
wp plugin delete video-embeds
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
