Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-23520

High

Published: 03 March 2025

Published
03 March 2025
Modified
28 April 2026
KEV Added
—
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 0.0023 46.2th percentile
Risk Priority 14 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2025-23520 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 Malicious Link (T1204.001); ranked at the 46.2th 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-15 (Information Output Filtering) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2025-23520 is an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation vulnerability, classified as Reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) under CWE-79, in the SecureSubmit Heartland Management Terminal WordPress plugin. This issue affects all versions from n/a through 1.3.0. The vulnerability was published on 2025-03-03.

The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L), indicating network accessibility, low attack complexity, no required privileges, and user interaction needed, with changed scope and low impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Remote attackers can exploit it by tricking authenticated users into interacting with maliciously crafted links or inputs reflected in web pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or site defacement within the plugin's context.

Patchstack provides details on the vulnerability in its advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/heartland-management-terminal/vulnerability/wordpress-heartland-management-terminal-plugin-1-3-0-reflected-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cve, which security practitioners should consult for mitigation guidance.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in SecureSubmit Heartland Management Terminal allows Reflected XSS. This issue affects Heartland Management Terminal: from n/a through 1.3.0.

CWE(s)
CWE-79

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1204.001 Malicious Link Execution
An adversary may rely upon a user clicking a malicious link in order to gain execution.
attack.mitre.org →
T1185 Browser Session Hijacking Collection
Adversaries may take advantage of security vulnerabilities and inherent functionality in browser software to change content, modify user-behaviors, and intercept information as part of various browser session hijacking techniques.
attack.mitre.org →
Why these techniques?

Reflected XSS enables delivery via malicious links (T1204.001) and directly facilitates browser session hijacking as described in the CVE impacts.

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

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-13918Shared CWE-79
CVE-2025-68880Shared CWE-79
CVE-2025-24686Shared CWE-79
CVE-2025-22332Shared CWE-79
CVE-2025-28899Shared CWE-79
CVE-2026-25018Shared CWE-79
CVE-2025-28924Shared CWE-79
CVE-2025-23699Shared CWE-79
CVE-2025-23836Shared CWE-79
CVE-2025-23632Shared CWE-79

Affected Assets

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

SI-15 Information Output Filtering good match
prevent

SI-15 requires filtering of information prior to output, directly preventing reflected XSS by neutralizing malicious inputs during web page generation.

SI-10 Information Input Validation partial match
prevent

SI-10 enforces input validation to reject or sanitize malicious payloads before they are reflected in web responses.

SI-2 Flaw Remediation good match
prevent

SI-2 mandates timely identification and remediation of flaws like this CVE, ensuring the vulnerable plugin is patched.

References