CVE-2025-23490

High

Published: 03 March 2025

Published

03 March 2025

Modified

23 April 2026

KEV Added

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Patch

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CVSS Score v3.1 7.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

EPSS Score 0.0011 29.3th percentile

Risk Priority 14 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-23490 is a high-severity Cross-site Scripting (CWE-79) vulnerability. Its CVSS base score is 7.1 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 29.3th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-15 (Information Output Filtering).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2025-23490 is an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation vulnerability, classified as Reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) under CWE-79, in the Browser-Update-Notify WordPress plugin developed by Michael Stursberg. The flaw affects the browser-update-notify component in all versions from n/a through 0.2.1 inclusive. Published on 2025-03-03, it carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L), indicating high severity due to network accessibility and scope change.

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely over the network with low attack complexity and no required privileges, though it necessitates user interaction such as clicking a malicious link. Exploitation delivers a reflected XSS payload, enabling arbitrary JavaScript execution in the victim's browser context within the affected WordPress site. This can result in low-level impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, such as session hijacking or data theft from the user.

The Patchstack advisory provides details on this WordPress plugin vulnerability, including potential mitigation and patch information, accessible at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/browser-update-notify/vulnerability/wordpress-browser-update-notify-plugin-0-2-1-reflected-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cve.

EU & UK References

🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-5744

Vulnerability details

Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Michael Stursberg Browser-Update-Notify browser-update-notify allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Browser-Update-Notify: from n/a through <= 0.2.1.

CWE(s): CWE-79

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access

Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.

attack.mitre.org →

T1059.007 JavaScript Execution

Adversaries may abuse various implementations of JavaScript for execution.

attack.mitre.org →

Why these techniques?

Reflected XSS in public-facing WordPress plugin directly enables T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) for remote exploitation via crafted URL; results in arbitrary JavaScript execution in browser, mapping to T1059.007 (JavaScript).

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v18.1