CVE-2025-23813
Published: 03 March 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-23813 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 in the top 42.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; 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-2025-23813 is an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation vulnerability, classified as Reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) under CWE-79, in the Guten Free Options WordPress plugin developed by Tony Hayes. The issue affects all versions of the guten-free-options plugin from n/a through 0.9.7 inclusive.
The vulnerability 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 network accessibility, low attack complexity, no required privileges, and user interaction needed for exploitation, with changed scope and low impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Remote attackers can exploit it by tricking authenticated or unauthenticated users into interacting with maliciously crafted links or inputs reflected in web pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further client-side compromise.
The Patchstack advisory at https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/guten-free-options/vulnerability/wordpress-guten-free-options-plugin-0-9-5-reflected-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability?_s_id=cve provides details on this Reflected XSS vulnerability in the Guten Free Options plugin. Security practitioners should consult it for specific mitigation guidance, such as plugin updates if available.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-5687
Vulnerability details
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Tony Hayes Guten Free Options guten-free-options allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Guten Free Options: from n/a through <= 0.9.7.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Reflected XSS in a public-facing WordPress plugin is exploited by crafting malicious links that trigger script execution upon user interaction, directly mapping to exploitation of public-facing applications and user execution via malicious links, with potential for session hijacking and data theft.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Filters information outputs to prevent reflection of unneutralized malicious inputs as executable scripts in web pages, directly mitigating reflected XSS.
Validates and sanitizes user inputs to block injection of malicious scripts into the Guten Free Options plugin's web page generation process.
Remediates the specific improper neutralization flaw in the plugin by applying timely patches or updates to versions beyond 0.9.7.