CVE-2025-50040 Overview
CVE-2025-50040 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the moshensky CF7 Spreadsheets WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions of cf7-spreadsheets up to and including 2.3.2. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute in the browser context of any user viewing the affected pages. The issue is classified as [CWE-79] (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation).
Critical Impact
Stored XSS enables session hijacking, credential theft, and administrative account takeover when a WordPress administrator views injected content.
Affected Products
- moshensky CF7 Spreadsheets plugin for WordPress
- All versions from n/a through 2.3.2
- WordPress sites using the cf7-spreadsheets extension for Contact Form 7
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-08-14 - CVE-2025-50040 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-50040
Vulnerability Analysis
The CF7 Spreadsheets plugin fails to properly neutralize user-supplied input before rendering it in generated web pages. This allows a low-privileged authenticated user to submit crafted input containing HTML or JavaScript. The payload is persisted in the plugin data store and later executed in the browser of any user who loads the affected page.
Because the vulnerability produces stored XSS with a scope change, injected scripts can access resources beyond the immediate vulnerable component. An attacker can leverage administrator sessions to install malicious plugins, create backdoor accounts, or exfiltrate site data.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing output encoding and inadequate input sanitization in the plugin's page generation logic. User-controlled values reach an HTML sink without passing through WordPress escaping functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses().
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access, low privileges, and user interaction. An authenticated attacker submits a payload through a plugin input field. The stored payload executes when a victim, typically a site administrator, views a page that renders the tainted data. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-50040
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script>, <iframe>, or event-handler attributes stored in plugin database tables associated with cf7-spreadsheets.
- New WordPress administrator accounts created without a corresponding admin action in the audit log.
- Outbound HTTP requests from administrator browsers to unfamiliar domains after visiting plugin-managed pages.
Detection Strategies
- Query the WordPress database for plugin-related rows containing HTML tags or JavaScript URI schemes such as javascript: and onerror=.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that inspects form submissions to Contact Form 7 endpoints for script payloads.
- Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to surface unexpected inline script execution on admin pages.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Log and alert on privilege changes and plugin installations performed by administrator sessions.
- Monitor plugin submission endpoints for anomalously long input values or non-printable characters.
- Review WordPress access logs for repeated POSTs to cf7-spreadsheets handlers from the same low-privileged account.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-50040
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable or remove the CF7 Spreadsheets plugin until a patched release is confirmed available.
- Audit all existing plugin data for stored HTML or JavaScript payloads and remove any tainted records.
- Rotate credentials and session tokens for administrator accounts that may have viewed injected content.
Patch Information
No patched version is identified in the available advisory data. The vulnerability affects cf7-spreadsheets through version 2.3.2. Monitor the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the WordPress plugin repository for update notices.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to the plugin's input surfaces by limiting which roles can submit Contact Form 7 entries.
- Deploy a strict Content Security Policy that blocks inline scripts on WordPress admin and public pages.
- Place the site behind a WAF configured to filter XSS payloads in form submissions.
# Temporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate cf7-spreadsheets
wp plugin status cf7-spreadsheets
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
