Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-25601 is a reflected XSS issue in the Contact Form X WordPress plugin through version 2.4. A victim must interact with a crafted link or request. Business impact is mainly limited unauthorized page manipulation in the victim’s browser, not direct server takeover based on the supplied evidence.
Executive priority
Treat as a scheduled remediation item for affected WordPress sites, not an emergency based on current evidence. Prioritize public-facing or administrator-heavy sites because exploitation depends on tricking a user into interacting with malicious content.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-79 reflected cross-site scripting involving the tab parameter in Contact Form X <= 2.4. CVSS 3.1 is 4.7 with network attack vector, low complexity, user interaction required, changed scope, no confidentiality impact, low integrity impact, and no availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running Jeff Starr’s Contact Form X plugin at version 2.4 or earlier. The bundle does not identify affected CPEs or confirm whether later plugin versions contain a fix.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. Exploitation requires user interaction. One reference title calls it authenticated XSS, while the CVSS vector says no privileges required, so access requirements should be verified.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports reflected XSS in the tab parameter, but source details are thin. The authentication requirement is inconsistent between the Patchstack reference title and the CVSS vector. Do not assume exploitation in the wild or a fixed version without checking the linked vendor records.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Contact Form X versions 2.4 or earlier.
- Check WordPress plugin and Patchstack guidance for a fixed or safe version.
- Update the plugin if vendor guidance confirms a patched release.
- Disable or remove the plugin where no safe update path exists.
- Warn administrators not to follow untrusted Contact Form X links.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Contact Form X is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record the installed plugin version and compare it with <= 2.4 exposure.
- Review plugin changelog or vendor guidance for the fix status.
- Check logs for suspicious requests involving the tab parameter.
- Validate that remediation removes or upgrades vulnerable installations.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-25601 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N2.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.7MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-x/#developersCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/contact-form-x/wordpress-contact-form-x-plugin-2-4-authenticated-reflected-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerabilityCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- FEDORA-2022-4b3079c1beCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- FEDORA-2022-956b6078fbCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- FEDORA-2022-706aac2786CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.