Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A logged-in WordPress user with at least contributor privileges could store malicious script content through Shortcodes Ultimate, affecting plugin versions up to 5.12.6. A victim must later view the affected content. Impact can include browser-side data exposure, unwanted actions, or page tampering within the site context.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate web application risk. It is most urgent for WordPress sites with external contributors or weak account controls. Address during the next security maintenance window, faster if contributor accounts are exposed or compromised.
Technical view
CVE-2023-25040 is CWE-79 stored XSS in Vova Anokhin Shortcodes Ultimate, package shortcodes-ultimate, affecting versions <=5.12.6. CVSS 3.1 is 6.5: AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L. Exploitation requires authenticated contributor-or-higher access and victim interaction.
Likely exposure
WordPress sites running Shortcodes Ultimate <=5.12.6 are the likely exposure. Risk is higher where contributor accounts are broadly issued, compromised, or used by external authors. Sites without this plugin or with newer unaffected versions are not indicated as exposed by the supplied sources.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not state active exploitation, and KEV is false. This is not an unauthenticated takeover issue; it requires a contributor-level or higher account and a user viewing stored content. Stored XSS can still matter because privileged administrators may be targeted after content is saved.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE and Patchstack advisory reference. The bundle identifies authenticated contributor-plus stored XSS but does not provide detailed affected version ranges beyond <=5.12.6, proof of exploitation, or a named fixed release. Avoid assuming exploit availability or remediation specifics beyond vendor guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Shortcodes Ultimate and record installed versions.
- Prioritize upgrading or replacing plugin versions <=5.12.6 using vendor guidance.
- Restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only.
- Review recent contributor content for suspicious embedded script behavior.
- If no fixed guidance is available, consider disabling the plugin temporarily.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Shortcodes Ultimate is installed on each WordPress site.
- Verify plugin version and flag installations <=5.12.6.
- Check whether untrusted users have contributor or higher roles.
- Review Patchstack and vendor guidance for fixed-version details.
- Use non-exploit security scanning to confirm the advisory status.
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-2023-25040 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
- 6.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
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:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L2.33.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Source materials
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.