CVE-2025-50025 Overview
CVE-2025-50025 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the codepeople CP Polls plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of cp-polls up to and including 1.0.81. The plugin fails to properly neutralize user-supplied input during web page generation, allowing an authenticated attacker with high privileges to inject persistent JavaScript payloads. When a victim loads the affected page, the browser executes the attacker-controlled script in the victim's session context. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79.
Critical Impact
Stored XSS enables session hijacking, credential theft, and administrative account takeover through malicious script execution in authenticated user sessions.
Affected Products
- codepeople CP Polls WordPress plugin (cp-polls)
- All versions from initial release through 1.0.81
- WordPress installations using the vulnerable plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-20 - CVE-2025-50025 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-50025
Vulnerability Analysis
The CP Polls plugin accepts input through poll configuration or content fields and stores that input in the WordPress database. The plugin renders this stored data back to browsers without applying proper output encoding or sanitization. An attacker with sufficient privileges can persist JavaScript payloads inside poll-related fields. Every subsequent visitor triggers execution of the injected script when the rendered page loads.
Stored XSS carries broader impact than reflected variants because the payload persists server-side and executes for every viewer. Administrators visiting the compromised page can have their session cookies exfiltrated, plugin settings modified, or new administrative accounts silently created. The scope-changing nature of the flaw allows the injected script to reach content outside the initial vulnerable component.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The plugin does not apply WordPress escaping functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses() to user-controlled fields before rendering them into HTML output. Input sanitization on write and output encoding on read are both missing or insufficient in the affected code paths.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the WordPress instance and an authenticated account with high privileges capable of creating or modifying poll content. The attacker submits a poll field containing an HTML or JavaScript payload. When a legitimate user, typically an administrator or logged-in visitor, loads the page containing the poll, the stored payload executes in the victim's browser context. User interaction is required to trigger the payload delivery.
See the Patchstack advisory for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-50025
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, javascript: URIs, or event handlers (onerror, onload) stored in wp_options, wp_postmeta, or plugin-specific tables tied to cp-polls.
- Outbound HTTP requests from administrator browsers to unfamiliar domains shortly after rendering poll pages.
- Creation of unauthorized WordPress administrator accounts or unexpected changes to user roles and plugin settings.
Detection Strategies
- Audit the WordPress database for CP Polls entries containing HTML control characters, encoded script tags, or suspicious attribute payloads.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that inspects POST requests to CP Polls administrative endpoints for XSS-indicative patterns.
- Review WordPress access logs for privileged users submitting poll configuration changes followed by anomalous session activity.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers in report-only mode to surface script executions from unexpected origins.
- Alert on administrator account creation, role elevation, and plugin file modifications through file integrity monitoring.
- Track outbound network connections from browsers loading WordPress admin pages to identify data exfiltration channels.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-50025
Immediate Actions Required
- Update CP Polls to a version later than 1.0.81 once codepeople publishes a fixed release; verify the version through the WordPress plugin dashboard.
- Restrict high-privilege WordPress accounts and enforce multi-factor authentication for all administrators and editors.
- Audit existing polls and remove any entries containing script tags, inline event handlers, or encoded JavaScript payloads.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the vendor advisory tracked by Patchstack indicates the vulnerability affects CP Polls versions through 1.0.81. Monitor the Patchstack advisory and the official WordPress plugin repository for a patched release, and apply it as soon as it becomes available.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the CP Polls plugin until a patched version ships if poll functionality is not business-critical.
- Deploy a web application firewall with XSS-focused rulesets in front of the WordPress instance to block payload submission.
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources to trusted origins.
# Example WordPress CLI commands to disable the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate cp-polls
wp plugin uninstall cp-polls
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
