CVE-2025-60102: WPFront User Role Editor Stored XSS Flaw

CVE-2025-60102 Overview

CVE-2025-60102 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WPFront User Role Editor plugin for WordPress, developed by Syam Mohan. The flaw affects all versions of wpfront-user-role-editor up to and including 4.2.3. The plugin fails to properly neutralize user-supplied input during web page generation, allowing an authenticated attacker with low privileges to inject persistent JavaScript payloads. Because the scope changes (S:C in the CVSS vector), the injected script executes in the context of other users who view the affected page, including administrators.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can inject persistent JavaScript that executes in administrator browsers, enabling session hijacking, privilege escalation, and full WordPress site takeover.

Affected Products

WPFront User Role Editor plugin for WordPress
All versions from unspecified initial release through 4.2.3
WordPress sites with the plugin installed and active

Discovery Timeline

2025-09-26 - CVE-2025-60102 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-60102

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-79] Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. The WPFront User Role Editor plugin accepts user-controlled input through one or more of its role management interfaces and stores that input without sufficient sanitization or output encoding. When the stored data is later rendered in a web page, embedded HTML or JavaScript executes in the browser of any user viewing the affected content.

Exploitation requires an authenticated session with at least low-level privileges and depends on user interaction, such as an administrator loading a role management page. The scope is changed, meaning the injected payload can affect resources beyond the security boundary of the vulnerable component. Successful exploitation can lead to session token theft, unauthorized administrative actions, and the creation of persistent backdoors in the WordPress installation.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient input validation and output encoding within the plugin's role editor functions. Data submitted through role-related fields is stored in the WordPress database and later returned to the DOM without contextual escaping. Standard WordPress sanitization helpers such as sanitize_text_field(), wp_kses(), and esc_html() are not consistently applied at the trust boundaries.

Attack Vector

The attack is delivered over the network through the WordPress admin interface. An authenticated attacker submits a crafted payload through a vulnerable role management form field. The payload is persisted, and when a privileged user views the associated page, the script executes with that user's session context. See the Patchstack WordPress Plugin Vulnerability advisory for additional technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-60102

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected <script>, onerror, onload, or javascript: strings stored in wp_options, wp_usermeta, or plugin-specific tables related to role definitions.
Anomalous outbound HTTP requests originating from administrator browsers to attacker-controlled domains shortly after loading WordPress admin pages.
Creation of new administrator accounts or unexpected role capability changes following administrator sessions on the User Role Editor page.

Detection Strategies

Review WordPress database contents for role and capability records containing HTML tags or JavaScript event handlers.
Inspect web server access logs for POST requests to WPFront User Role Editor endpoints from low-privileged accounts followed by administrator GET requests to the same interface.
Deploy content security policy (CSP) reporting to surface inline script executions in the WordPress admin console.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress audit logging for role and capability modifications, user creation events, and plugin configuration changes.
Alert on the installation or activation of the WPFront User Role Editor plugin at version 4.2.3 or earlier.
Monitor administrator sessions for anomalous JavaScript-driven actions, such as REST API calls originating from admin page contexts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-60102

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade the WPFront User Role Editor plugin to a version later than 4.2.3 as soon as a patched release is available from the vendor.
Restrict access to role management functionality to trusted administrators only and audit existing accounts with elevated capabilities.
Rotate WordPress administrator passwords and invalidate active sessions after applying the patch.

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the Patchstack advisory is the authoritative source for remediation status. Administrators should monitor the WordPress plugin repository for a release above 4.2.3 and apply updates through the standard WordPress plugin update workflow.

Workarounds

Deactivate the WPFront User Role Editor plugin until a patched version is installed.
Enforce a strict Content Security Policy on the WordPress admin interface to limit inline script execution.
Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule that inspects and blocks HTML or JavaScript payloads in requests to plugin endpoints.

bash

# Configuration example: disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate wpfront-user-role-editor
wp plugin status wpfront-user-role-editor