CVE-2025-12109
Stored XSS in Header Footer Script Adder WordPress Plugin
Publication date: 2025-12-13
Last updated on: 2025-12-13
Assigner: Wordfence
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| wordpress | header_footer_script_adder | * |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-79 | The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue in the Header Footer Script Adder plugin for WordPress. It occurs because the plugin does not properly sanitize or escape input in posts, allowing authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious scripts. These scripts then execute whenever any user views the affected page.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
The vulnerability can allow attackers with Contributor-level access to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of users who visit the infected pages. This can lead to theft of user data, session hijacking, defacement, or other malicious actions performed on behalf of the user without their consent.
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
You can detect this vulnerability by scanning WordPress sites for the presence of the Header Footer Script Adder plugin version 2.0.5 or earlier. Additionally, look for suspicious script injections in post meta fields, especially scripts added by users with Contributor-level access or above. Since the vulnerability involves stored cross-site scripting via post meta boxes, you can search the database for suspicious script tags in the asm_header_scripts, asm_body_scripts, and asm_footer_scripts meta keys. For example, use SQL commands to query the wp_postmeta table for these keys containing <script> tags. Example SQL command: SELECT post_id, meta_key, meta_value FROM wp_postmeta WHERE meta_key IN ('asm_header_scripts', 'asm_body_scripts', 'asm_footer_scripts') AND meta_value LIKE '%<script>%'; [1]
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
The immediate mitigation step is to update the Header Footer Script Adder plugin to version 2.0.6 or later, which includes security fixes such as nonce verification, permission checks, and sanitization of script inputs to prevent stored XSS. Additionally, restrict Contributor-level users from adding unfiltered HTML or scripts until the update is applied. Review and sanitize any existing scripts in posts that may have been injected maliciously. [1]