CVE-2025-23520
Published: 03 March 2025
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 45.9th 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).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
SI-15 requires filtering of information prior to output, directly preventing reflected XSS by neutralizing malicious inputs during web page generation.
SI-10 enforces input validation to reject or sanitize malicious payloads before they are reflected in web responses.
SI-2 mandates timely identification and remediation of flaws like this CVE, ensuring the vulnerable plugin is patched.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Reflected XSS enables delivery via malicious links (T1204.001) and directly facilitates browser session hijacking as described in the CVE impacts.
NVD Description
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.
Deeper analysisAI
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.
Details
- CWE(s)