CVE-2025-22761 is classified as a Stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Olaf Lederer Ajax Contact Form plugin. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages generated by the application, impacting users who interact with the compromised forms. The vulnerability affects versions of the Ajax Contact Form plugin from n/a through 1.4.1.
With a CVSS score of 6.5, this vulnerability is categorized as medium severity. Its exploitability is medium, indicating that while it requires certain conditions to be met for an attack to be successful, the impact on an organization could be significant, especially if sensitive user data is involved.
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to user data and manipulation of web content. The requirement for user interaction means that attackers may need to trick users into executing the malicious script, but the consequences could lead to data breaches or further exploitation of the system.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed, and while there is no evidence of active exploitation at this time, the nature of XSS vulnerabilities makes them a common target for attackers.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is described as an improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which is classified under CWE-79. The specific issue allows stored XSS, which means that malicious scripts can be saved and executed when users access the affected page.
It is important to note that the vulnerability affects all versions of the Ajax Contact Form plugin up to 1.4.1. The publication date for this vulnerability is January 15, 2025.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2025-22761 lies in the failure to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in the web application. Attackers may exploit this vulnerability via the network.
The attack complexity is low, as it requires minimal technical skill to exploit. Privileges required are low, meaning even non-authenticated users could trigger the vulnerability if they have access to the affected web pages.
User interaction is required, as the attack typically needs the user to click on a malicious link or submit a form to execute the script. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all rated as low in this case.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment risk is significant, as XSS vulnerabilities can lead to serious consequences, including data theft and unauthorized actions on behalf of users. Organizations must understand the implications of this vulnerability and take appropriate action to mitigate risks.
The urgency for addressing this vulnerability is medium. Organizations should schedule remediation as part of their security patch cycle. The potential blast radius can be considerable, especially in applications with high user engagement.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
All versions up to and including 1.4.1 of the Olaf Lederer Ajax Contact Form are affected.
Mitigation & Remediation
To address CVE-2025-22761, organizations should apply patches or updates provided by the vendor immediately. If a patch is not available, consider implementing workarounds to validate user input and sanitize any data before rendering in web pages.
Configuration hardening should be applied, including disabling features that allow untrusted input to be processed without validation. Network controls can further limit exposure to potential exploits.
Monitoring for unusual behavior or anomalies in user interactions can help identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
For more detailed guidance, organizations can refer to resources on penetration testing methodologies and best practices.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of unusual web requests that may indicate attempts to exploit stored XSS vulnerabilities. Behavioral anomalies, such as unexpected user input patterns or repeated form submissions, can also serve as indicators.
Network signatures can be established to identify common exploitation techniques associated with XSS attacks.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-22761 highlights the ongoing risks associated with user input validation in web applications. The long-term significance of this vulnerability reflects a broader trend where attackers exploit such weaknesses in widely used plugins.
Security teams should learn from this incident to prioritize input validation and implement robust security testing frameworks to mitigate similar risks in the future.
For further reading, organizations can explore guides on vulnerability management programs and web application penetration testing strategies to strengthen their security posture.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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