The ClickWhale – Link Manager, Link Shortener and Click Tracker for Affiliate Links & Link Pages plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via link titles in all versions up to, and including, 2.4.1 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
Risk to organizations includes the potential for unauthorized script execution, leading to data exposure and session hijacking. The medium severity level, with a CVSS score of 6.4, indicates that this issue should not be overlooked. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
As of now, there is no confirmed public exploit for this vulnerability, but given its nature, it could be actively exploited in the wild. Organizations using the ClickWhale plugin should address this issue in their priority patch cycle to protect their environments.
The vulnerability was disclosed on January 29, 2025, and it is crucial for organizations to stay informed on security patches released by the vendor.
The plugin is used widely across WordPress sites for managing links, making it a potential target for attackers looking to exploit this vulnerability.
To ensure security, organizations should implement robust input validation and sanitization practices in their applications.
Vulnerability Details
The ClickWhale plugin is susceptible to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) due to inadequate input handling and output encoding. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79. The CVSS score from the primary source rates this vulnerability as medium (5.4), while the secondary source gives it a higher score of 6.4, reflecting its potential impact.
Affected versions include all prior to and including 2.4.1. Users are encouraged to upgrade to version 2.4.2 or later, which addresses this vulnerability.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper input sanitization and output escaping in the plugin's handling of link titles. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability through a network attack vector, requiring only low privileges to execute their scripts.
The attack complexity is low, as it does not require significant effort to exploit. User interaction is not required for the attack's success. The vulnerability's impact is primarily on confidentiality and integrity, as attackers can execute arbitrary scripts, potentially stealing sensitive information or altering page content.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world risk associated with this vulnerability includes unauthorized script execution and potential data theft. Organizations utilizing the ClickWhale plugin must recognize the urgency of this issue, especially considering its widespread deployment in WordPress environments.
The potential blast radius for this vulnerability can be significant, as many WordPress sites use this plugin. The CVSS score indicates that this vulnerability should be addressed as a priority in patch cycles.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions of the ClickWhale plugin prior to version 2.4.2 are affected by this vulnerability. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to the latest version to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately upgrade to ClickWhale version 2.4.2 or later. In addition, organizations can implement input validation and output encoding to further reduce the risk of XSS vulnerabilities. Application security assessments can also help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor for unusual behavior in user sessions that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Log indicators such as unauthorized access attempts and script injection patterns should be analyzed to detect potential attacks.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of this vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in plugin development. This incident serves as a reminder for security teams to prioritize input validation and proper output encoding in their applications.
Organizations should also consider implementing a vulnerability management program to ensure that similar risks are identified and addressed proactively.
By understanding the patterns and trends associated with vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-0804, organizations can enhance their security posture and better defend against future attacks.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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