CVE-2025-57945 Overview
CVE-2025-57945 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the CedCommerce WP Advanced PDF plugin for WordPress. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, classified under [CWE-79]. Attackers with high privileges can inject persistent JavaScript payloads that execute in the browsers of users who view the affected pages. The issue affects all plugin versions up to and including 1.1.7. Because the injected script executes in a changed security scope, the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component to other resources accessible to the victim.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can store malicious JavaScript that executes against site administrators and visitors, enabling session theft, content manipulation, and lateral compromise of the WordPress environment.
Affected Products
- CedCommerce WP Advanced PDF plugin for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 1.1.7
- WordPress sites with the wp-advanced-pdf plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-09-22 - CVE-2025-57945 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-57945
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the WP Advanced PDF plugin's handling of user-controlled input rendered into WordPress-generated pages. The plugin fails to sanitize or encode input before writing it back into HTML output. As a result, script content persists in the database and executes each time a user renders the affected page. The scope change indicated in the vulnerability metadata means script execution can affect resources outside the plugin's immediate security boundary. User interaction is required for exploitation, so an administrator or other user must load the poisoned page for the payload to run.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing output encoding and input sanitization in fields processed by the plugin. WordPress provides helper functions such as esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses_post() for safe rendering, but the vulnerable code paths in wp-advanced-pdf did not apply them. Persistent storage of the raw input in the WordPress database converts a transient injection into a stored XSS condition.
Attack Vector
An attacker with high-privilege access to the WordPress backend submits crafted input through plugin-controlled fields. The payload is stored and later served without proper escaping. When an administrator or other authenticated user opens the affected page, the browser executes the injected JavaScript in the context of the WordPress site. Consult the PatchStack Vulnerability Advisory for further technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-57945
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, on* event handlers, or javascript: URIs in WordPress post metadata or plugin option tables
- Outbound requests from administrator browsers to unfamiliar domains shortly after loading pages rendered by wp-advanced-pdf
- New or modified WordPress administrator accounts created without a corresponding audit trail
- Session cookies or nonces appearing in web server logs or referrer headers to third-party hosts
Detection Strategies
- Inspect the wp_posts, wp_postmeta, and plugin-specific option rows for HTML or JavaScript artifacts that should not appear in PDF-related fields
- Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) reporting to surface inline script execution attempts on admin pages
- Review WordPress access logs for high-privilege users submitting content to endpoints owned by the plugin
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable file integrity monitoring on the wp-content/plugins/wp-advanced-pdf/ directory
- Alert on administrator sessions loading pages that trigger unusual DOM modifications or outbound XHR traffic
- Track plugin version inventory to identify hosts still running 1.1.7 or earlier
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-57945
Immediate Actions Required
- Update WP Advanced PDF to a release later than 1.1.7 as soon as the vendor publishes a fixed version
- Audit administrator and editor accounts, rotating credentials for any user with plugin access
- Review stored plugin content and remove any embedded scripts or suspicious HTML
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the PatchStack advisory lists the issue as affecting versions up to and including 1.1.7. Site operators should monitor the PatchStack advisory and the plugin's WordPress.org page for a fixed release, and apply the update through the WordPress plugin manager once available.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the WP Advanced PDF plugin until a patched version is available
- Restrict high-privilege WordPress roles to a minimal set of trusted administrators
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that blocks inline scripts on WordPress admin pages
- Deploy a web application firewall rule set that inspects plugin input for script tags and event handlers
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.