CVE-2025-27014
Published: 26 March 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-27014 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 21.7% 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).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Filters reflected user inputs in web page outputs to prevent execution of arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser context.
Validates untrusted inputs to the Hostiko theme before processing, addressing improper neutralization during web page generation.
Ensures timely remediation of the reflected XSS flaw by patching the Hostiko WordPress theme to version 30.1 or later.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Reflected XSS in public-facing WordPress theme directly enables T1190 (exploit public-facing application) and is exploited via malicious links (T1204.001) typically delivered as spearphishing (T1566.002).
NVD Description
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in designingmedia Hostiko hostiko allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Hostiko: from n/a through < 30.1.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-27014 is an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation vulnerability, classified as Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS, CWE-79), affecting the Hostiko WordPress theme developed by designingmedia. The issue impacts all versions of Hostiko from n/a through those prior to 30.1. Published on 2025-03-26, 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, low attack complexity, no required privileges, user interaction, and changed scope with low impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without authentication by crafting malicious input that reflects unsanitized back into a web page generated by the Hostiko theme. This requires tricking a user—such as a site visitor or administrator—into interacting with a malicious link or payload via social engineering, like phishing. Successful exploitation executes arbitrary JavaScript in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive data like cookies or tokens, or minor disruptions, though impacts remain low per the CVSS metrics.
Patchstack advisories detail the vulnerability and recommend updating the Hostiko WordPress theme to version 30.1 or later, where the XSS flaw is addressed. No additional workarounds are specified in available references.
Details
- CWE(s)