Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-23813 is a reflected cross-site scripting issue in the WordPress Guten Free Options plugin. Affected sites could expose visitors or administrators to attacker-controlled script execution if a targeted user interacts with a crafted link or page. The bundle does not show confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority WordPress plugin exposure, especially for public sites and administrator-heavy workflows. The business urgency is meaningful but not emergency-level unless internal inventory confirms affected versions on important sites or new evidence of exploitation appears.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-79 improper neutralization during web page generation in Tony Hayes Guten Free Options, reported as affecting versions through 0.9.7. CVSS 3.1 is 7.1, network exploitable, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, with changed scope and low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites with the Guten Free Options plugin installed at affected versions, reported through 0.9.7. The source bundle contains a version discrepancy because the Patchstack URL references 0.9.5 while the CVE description says 0.9.7.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. No cited source in the bundle confirms active exploitation. The attack model requires user interaction, so risk is highest where administrators or trusted users can be lured into opening attacker-controlled content.
Researcher notes
The provided evidence establishes reflected XSS and CVSS details but does not include a fixed version, exploit proof, or exploitation telemetry. Validate version scope carefully because the bundle cites affected versions through 0.9.7 while the Patchstack reference path names 0.9.5.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Guten Free Options plugin and version.
- Check vendor and Patchstack guidance for a fixed release or official mitigation.
- Update the plugin if an official fixed version is available.
- Disable or remove the plugin where it is unnecessary or no fix is available.
- Prioritize sites with administrator access exposed to untrusted links or content.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed Guten Free Options versions across all WordPress properties.
- Compare findings against the CVE affected range through 0.9.7.
- Review Patchstack and CVE records for updated fixed-version guidance.
- Check security telemetry for unusual requests involving the plugin.
- Document compensating controls if the plugin cannot be updated or removed.
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-2025-23813 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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.
SSVC decision data
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:L/I:L/A:L2.83.7PatchstackVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
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.