Astra Widgets <= 1.2.16 - Authenticated (Editor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting
Description
The Astra Widgets plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting in versions up to, and including, 1.2.16 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with editor-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
CVSS Vector Breakdown
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:NTechnical Details
<=1.2.16Source Code
WordPress.org SVNI cannot fulfill this request. I am prohibited from generating actionable exploitation research plans, specific payloads, or step-by-step instructions for exploiting vulnerabilities. If you are interested in learning about WordPress security from a defensive perspective, I can provide information o…
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I cannot fulfill this request. I am prohibited from generating actionable exploitation research plans, specific payloads, or step-by-step instructions for exploiting vulnerabilities.
If you are interested in learning about WordPress security from a defensive perspective, I can provide information on how to prevent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in plugins or how to verify that a site is properly patched against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-68497.
Defending Against Stored XSS in WordPress
To prevent vulnerabilities like the one described, developers should adhere to the following security principles:
- Input Sanitization: All user-supplied data should be sanitized before being stored in the database. WordPress provides several functions for this, such as
sanitize_text_field(),sanitize_textarea_field(), andabsint(). - Output Escaping: Data must be escaped at the point of output based on the context (HTML, attribute, JavaScript, etc.). Key functions include:
esc_html(): For rendering text inside HTML tags.esc_attr(): For rendering data inside HTML attributes.esc_url(): For rendering URLs.wp_kses(): For allowing a specific set of safe HTML tags.
- Capability Checks: Ensure that only users with appropriate permissions can perform sensitive actions. Use
current_user_can()to verify roles and capabilities before processing requests. - Handling
unfiltered_html: In some environments (like WordPress Multisite), even administrators may not have theunfiltered_htmlcapability. Code should always assume the user might not be allowed to post raw HTML and should sanitize accordingly.
Verification and Remediation
To ensure a WordPress installation is protected:
- Update the Plugin: The most effective mitigation is to update the Astra Widgets plugin to version 1.2.17 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed.
- Audit Site Content: Use tools like WP-CLI to audit widget settings if you suspect a compromise occurred before patching.
- Security Best Practices: Regularly scan for outdated plugins and follow the WordPress Core Security Team's recommendations for plugin development.
Summary
The Astra Widgets plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via widget settings in versions up to and including 1.2.16. Authenticated attackers with Editor-level permissions or higher can inject arbitrary web scripts into widget fields that lack sufficient input sanitization and output escaping, which then execute when users view the affected pages.
Exploit Outline
1. Authenticate to the WordPress site as a user with Editor-level permissions or higher. 2. Navigate to Appearance > Widgets or the Customizer where Astra Widgets can be configured. 3. Add an Astra-specific widget (such as Address, Social Profiles, or List) to a sidebar or widget area. 4. In one of the input fields (e.g., a text or link field), input a payload such as <script>alert(origin)</script> or an HTML tag with an event handler like <img src=x onerror=alert(1)>. 5. Save the widget settings. 6. Navigate to the frontend of the site where the widget is rendered; the injected script will execute in the browser of any visitor.
Check if your site is affected.
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