CVE-2025-50048 Overview
CVE-2025-50048 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Atakan Au Automatically Hierarchic Categories in Menu WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation [CWE-79]. It affects all versions of the plugin from initial release through and including version 2.0.9. An authenticated attacker with low-level privileges can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute in the context of any user viewing the affected pages.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can inject stored JavaScript that executes in visitors' browsers, enabling session theft, credential harvesting, and administrative account takeover through scope-changed impact.
Affected Products
- Atakan Au Automatically Hierarchic Categories in Menu plugin for WordPress
- All versions up to and including 2.0.9
- WordPress sites with the plugin installed and active
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-20 - CVE-2025-50048 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-50048
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a stored XSS flaw in the Automatically Hierarchic Categories in Menu WordPress plugin. Stored XSS occurs when user-supplied data is persisted by the application and later rendered in HTML output without proper encoding or sanitization. Because the payload is stored server-side, it executes for every user who loads the affected page, extending the impact beyond a single victim.
Exploitation requires low privileges and user interaction. The scope-changed impact indicates the injected script can affect components beyond the vulnerable plugin itself, such as the WordPress administrator dashboard or other site visitors' sessions.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient input sanitization and output encoding within the plugin's handling of user-controlled fields. Data submitted by an authenticated user is stored in the WordPress database and later rendered into menu output without being escaped through functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), or wp_kses(). This allows raw HTML and JavaScript to reach the browser as executable content.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker with contributor-level or similar low privileges submits a crafted payload through a plugin input field. The payload persists in the database. When an administrator or visitor loads a page that renders the affected menu content, the browser parses and executes the injected script. This enables session cookie theft, forced administrative actions via CSRF chaining, credential capture through injected forms, or redirection to attacker-controlled infrastructure. Refer to the Patchstack XSS Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-50048
Indicators of Compromise
- Presence of <script> tags, javascript: URIs, or event handlers such as onerror= and onload= within WordPress menu or category records.
- Unexpected outbound requests from administrator browser sessions to unknown external domains after visiting menu-rendered pages.
- New or modified WordPress administrator accounts with no corresponding legitimate change record.
- Modified plugin option entries in the wp_options or category term meta tables containing HTML markup.
Detection Strategies
- Audit WordPress database tables (wp_terms, wp_termmeta, wp_options) for stored HTML or JavaScript in fields consumed by the plugin.
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that inspect and block XSS payload patterns targeting authenticated WordPress endpoints.
- Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to surface unexpected inline script execution on menu-rendered pages.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor WordPress access logs for POST requests to plugin administrative endpoints containing encoded script fragments.
- Track administrator session anomalies, including new sessions from unfamiliar IP addresses following contributor activity.
- Alert on modifications to user roles, capabilities, and administrator account creation events.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-50048
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate the Automatically Hierarchic Categories in Menu plugin on all WordPress instances running version 2.0.9 or earlier until a patched release is verified.
- Review all contributor, author, and editor accounts and revoke access for any that are unused or unverified.
- Inspect the WordPress database for stored payloads and sanitize or remove any suspicious entries in category and menu-related tables.
- Rotate credentials and session tokens for any administrator account that accessed pages while the vulnerable plugin was active.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no patched version beyond 2.0.9 has been identified in the referenced advisory. Monitor the Patchstack advisory and the WordPress plugin repository for a fixed release, and apply it as soon as it becomes available.
Workarounds
- Remove or replace the plugin with an actively maintained alternative that provides equivalent menu hierarchy functionality.
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts and restricts script sources to trusted origins.
- Restrict low-privilege user roles from accessing plugin configuration and menu-editing capabilities through role management controls.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.