CVE-2025-31442
Published: 03 April 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-31442 is a high-severity Cross-site Scripting (CWE-79) vulnerability. Its CVSS base score is 7.1 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 28.2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2025-31442 is a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79) caused by improper neutralization of input during web page generation. It affects the Search engine keywords highlighter WordPress plugin (keywords-highlight-tool) by e1tekoap42 in all versions through 0.1.3. The flaw carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.1 with network attack vector, low complexity, no required privileges, and required user interaction, resulting in limited impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability under a changed scope.
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit the issue by supplying a crafted URL containing malicious script that is reflected back to a victim who follows the link. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute JavaScript in the context of the affected site, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or other actions within the victim's browser session on the WordPress site.
The Patchstack advisory for this vulnerability recommends that site administrators update the Search engine keywords highlighter plugin to a fixed version once released or apply available mitigations to neutralize the reflected input. The EPSS score remains low, with a current value of 0.0067 and a modest peak of 0.0111.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-14759
Vulnerability details
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in e1tekoap42 Search engine keywords highlighter keywords-highlight-tool allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Search engine keywords highlighter: from n/a through <= 0.1.3.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Penetration testing submits XSS payloads to web applications, detecting cross-site scripting flaws for subsequent remediation.
Validates web inputs to reject script-related content that could produce XSS.
Output validation against expected content can reject or sanitize script content in generated web pages, reducing XSS exploitability.