CVE-2025-50042 Overview
CVE-2025-50042 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability [CWE-79] in the aviplugins.com WP Register Profile With Shortcode plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of wp-register-profile-with-shortcode up to and including 3.6.3. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute when other users, including administrators, view the affected pages. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation.
Critical Impact
Attackers with low-privilege authenticated access can inject persistent JavaScript that executes in the browsers of site visitors and administrators, enabling session hijacking, credential theft, and administrative account takeover.
Affected Products
- aviplugins.com WP Register Profile With Shortcode plugin for WordPress
- All versions from n/a through 3.6.3
- WordPress sites using the wp-register-profile-with-shortcode plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-20 - CVE-2025-50042 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-50042
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability affects the WP Register Profile With Shortcode plugin, which provides user registration and profile management functionality via WordPress shortcodes. The plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied input before rendering it back into HTML pages. This creates a stored XSS condition where malicious scripts persist in the site database and execute whenever an affected page loads.
Exploitation requires an authenticated session with low privileges and user interaction from a victim. Because the scope changes when the payload fires, injected scripts can act beyond the attacker's original permission boundary. Successful attacks can compromise session cookies, perform actions as the victim, or pivot to full administrator takeover.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation [CWE-79]. Input fields handled by the plugin — typically profile or registration fields exposed through shortcodes — accept HTML and JavaScript content without applying WordPress escaping functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses(). Stored payloads are later rendered in the DOM without contextual encoding, allowing script execution in the viewer's browser.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker submits a crafted payload through a plugin-controlled profile or registration field. The payload is stored in the WordPress database and rendered on any page displaying the affected content. When an administrator or another user visits that page, the injected JavaScript executes in their browser session under the site origin. This enables cookie theft, forced administrative actions via the WordPress REST API, or the injection of additional backdoors into site content.
See the Patchstack advisory for WP Register Profile With Shortcode for additional technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-50042
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script>, <iframe>, or event-handler attributes (e.g., onerror, onload) stored within wp_usermeta or wp_posts entries associated with the plugin.
- Outbound HTTP requests from administrator browsers to unfamiliar domains shortly after viewing user profile pages.
- Creation of new administrator accounts or unexpected changes to user roles following visits to plugin-rendered pages.
Detection Strategies
- Query the WordPress database for suspicious HTML or JavaScript content in fields populated by the WP Register Profile With Shortcode plugin.
- Enable web application firewall (WAF) rules that inspect POST parameters submitted to registration and profile update endpoints for XSS signatures.
- Review server access logs for repeated profile update requests containing encoded script fragments or unusual character sequences.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor administrator sessions for anomalous REST API calls, particularly to /wp-json/wp/v2/users and plugin management endpoints.
- Alert on new plugin installations, theme edits, or file modifications following user profile activity.
- Track Content Security Policy (CSP) violation reports to identify script execution from unauthorized inline sources.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-50042
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the WP Register Profile With Shortcode plugin to a version later than 3.6.3 as soon as a patched release is available from aviplugins.com.
- Audit existing user profile data and stored content for injected script payloads and remove malicious entries.
- Rotate administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if compromise is suspected.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.6.3. Consult the Patchstack advisory and the aviplugins.com vendor page for the latest fixed release information.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the WP Register Profile With Shortcode plugin until a patched version is installed.
- Restrict user registration and limit which roles can submit profile content through WordPress role management.
- Deploy a WAF rule set that blocks XSS payload patterns in requests to WordPress profile and registration endpoints.
- Implement a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline script execution to reduce the impact of stored payloads.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
