CVE-2025-8294 Overview
The Download Counter plugin for WordPress contains a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting all versions up to and including 1.3. The flaw resides in the handling of the name parameter, which lacks sufficient input sanitization and output escaping. Authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher can inject arbitrary JavaScript that executes in any visitor's browser when they view an affected page. The vulnerability is tracked as [CWE-79] and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4.
Critical Impact
Authenticated contributors can persist malicious JavaScript in WordPress pages, enabling session theft, administrative account takeover, and drive-by redirects for any visitor who loads the injected content.
Affected Products
- Download Counter plugin for WordPress, versions 1.0 through 1.3
- WordPress sites permitting Contributor or higher-privileged user registration
- Any WordPress installation with the vulnerable plugin active
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-08-05 - CVE-2025-8294 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-8294
Vulnerability Analysis
The Download Counter plugin accepts user-supplied input through the name parameter without applying WordPress sanitization functions such as sanitize_text_field() or output escaping helpers such as esc_html() and esc_attr(). When a contributor submits crafted input containing HTML or JavaScript, the payload is stored in the WordPress database. The plugin later renders that stored content directly into page markup, causing the browser to interpret it as executable script rather than literal text. Because the injection persists server-side, every subsequent visitor to the affected page triggers the payload without further attacker action.
Root Cause
The root cause is the combined absence of input sanitization on write and output escaping on read for the name parameter. WordPress plugin development guidance requires context-appropriate escaping at the point of output, which this plugin omits. The fix committed in WordPress Plugin Changeset 3338968 introduces the missing escaping calls.
Attack Vector
An attacker first obtains Contributor-level access, which many WordPress sites grant through open registration or guest-author workflows. The attacker then submits a payload through the plugin's name field. When an administrator, editor, or ordinary visitor loads a page rendering that field, the injected script runs in their session context. Because the CVSS scope is Changed, the impact extends beyond the vulnerable plugin to the wider browser origin, enabling cookie theft, CSRF against admin endpoints, and account takeover.
No verified public exploit code is available. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional advisory detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-8294
Indicators of Compromise
- Database entries created by the Download Counter plugin containing <script>, onerror=, onload=, javascript:, or encoded variants in the name field
- Unexpected outbound requests from administrator browsers to attacker-controlled domains following visits to plugin-managed pages
- New WordPress administrator accounts, altered user roles, or unfamiliar plugins installed after a contributor account was active
- Contributor accounts submitting or editing Download Counter entries at unusual frequencies or times
Detection Strategies
- Query the wp_posts and plugin-specific tables for HTML tags or JavaScript event handlers stored in Download Counter name values
- Review web server access logs for POST requests to admin-ajax endpoints or plugin routes originating from Contributor-level accounts
- Inspect browser console errors and Content Security Policy violation reports from pages served by the plugin
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging to record content creation and modification actions performed by Contributor and Author roles
- Alert on newly created Contributor accounts followed by rapid content submission through vulnerable plugins
- Monitor for privilege changes, plugin installations, and theme edits initiated from administrator sessions after visiting user-generated pages
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-8294
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Download Counter plugin to the version containing the fix from WordPress Plugin Changeset 3338968
- If a patched release is not yet available on the plugin repository, deactivate and remove the plugin until one is
- Audit all existing Download Counter entries for stored payloads and sanitize or delete suspicious records
- Review Contributor, Author, and Editor accounts and revoke any that are not recognized or necessary
Patch Information
The vulnerability is addressed in the code committed in WordPress Plugin Changeset 3338968. Administrators should verify the plugin version is greater than 1.3 after updating through the WordPress admin dashboard. Refer to the Download Counter plugin page for release history.
Workarounds
- Disable open user registration or restrict new registrations to the Subscriber role, which cannot submit content
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that blocks HTML tags and JavaScript event handlers in the plugin's name parameter
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy that disallows inline scripts on pages rendered by the plugin
- Require multi-factor authentication for all Contributor and higher accounts to reduce credential-based abuse
# Example WordPress-CLI commands to audit and mitigate
wp plugin update download-counter
wp plugin status download-counter
wp user list --role=contributor --fields=ID,user_login,user_registered
wp db query "SELECT ID, post_title FROM wp_posts WHERE post_content LIKE '%<script%' OR post_content LIKE '%onerror=%';"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
