CVE-2025-48156

Vulnerability

Overview

The Image Wall plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 3.1 contains a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability due to improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation [1]. This flaw enables an attacker with contributor-level privileges or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript or HTML into plugin pages, which is then stored and executed in the browsers of other users.

Exploitation

Prerequisites

Exploitation requires an authenticated user with the ability to submit or modify content via the plugin (e.g., a contributor role). The attacker must craft a malicious payload that bypasses input sanitization; once saved, the payload executes when an administrator or visitor views the affected page. User interaction (e.g., clicking a link or visiting a crafted page) is required for the attack to succeed [1].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows the attacker to perform actions such as redirecting visitors to malicious sites, injecting advertisements, stealing session cookies, or defacing the website. This type of vulnerability is frequently used in mass-exploit campaigns targeting thousands of WordPress sites [1].

Mitigation

The vendor has released version 3.2 which fixes the vulnerability. Users are strongly advised to update immediately. If updating is not possible, consider disabling the plugin or implementing a web application firewall. Patchstack users can enable auto-updates for vulnerable plugins [1].