Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
WordPress sites using Apply with LinkedIn buttons version 2.3 or earlier may be exposed to a CSRF issue that can lead to stored cross-site scripting. In business terms, a tricked administrator could unintentionally save malicious content that later runs in browsers. The source bundle does not identify a patched version.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for WordPress environments using the plugin. It is not confirmed as actively exploited in the provided sources, but stored XSS can create reputational, data exposure, and site integrity risk.
Technical view
CVE-2025-23898 is a CWE-352 CSRF vulnerability in the apply-with-linkedin-buttons WordPress plugin through version 2.3, reported as CSRF to Stored XSS. CVSS 3.1 is 7.1 with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, required user interaction, and changed scope.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress installations with the Apply with LinkedIn buttons plugin installed at version 2.3 or earlier. The bundle does not provide CPEs or installation prevalence.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. The attack requires user interaction, consistent with CSRF, and could result in stored XSS if an authorized user is tricked.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE metadata and Patchstack reference. The bundle does not include vulnerable endpoint details, proof of concept, exploit telemetry, patch version, or vendor advisory text. Avoid assuming broader product impact beyond Apply with LinkedIn buttons through 2.3.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Apply with LinkedIn buttons plugin.
- Prioritize sites running version 2.3 or earlier.
- Check vendor, WordPress, and Patchstack guidance for an update or official mitigation.
- Disable or remove the plugin where it is not business-critical.
- Review affected sites for unexpected stored content or configuration changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether apply-with-linkedin-buttons is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record the installed plugin version and flag version 2.3 or earlier.
- Review administrative content and plugin settings for suspicious injected HTML or scripts.
- Check security monitoring for unusual administrator-session activity around plugin configuration changes.
- Verify any remediation against vendor or Patchstack guidance before closure.
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-352: 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-2025-23898 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.
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.