Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a stored cross-site scripting flaw in the WordPress Most And Least Read Posts Widget plugin through version 2.5.20. A user with some privileges could save unsafe content that later runs in another user's browser. The likely business impact is account misuse, content tampering, or data exposure inside affected WordPress sites.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate WordPress application risk. It is not documented as actively exploited in the provided sources, but stored XSS can affect administrators and site visitors. Prioritize internet-facing or multi-author WordPress sites first.
Technical view
CVE-2025-39549 is CWE-79 stored XSS in whiletrue Most And Least Read Posts Widget, package most-and-least-read-posts-widget, affecting versions through 2.5.20. CVSS 3.1 is 6.5 with network access, low complexity, low privileges, required user interaction, changed scope, and low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress installations running the Most And Least Read Posts Widget plugin at version 2.5.20 or earlier. The CVE data does not identify affected input fields, default exploitability, or whether unauthenticated users can reach the vulnerable path.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires low privileges and user interaction, consistent with stored XSS that affects a later viewer rather than direct server compromise.
Researcher notes
The public bundle identifies the vulnerability class, affected plugin, affected version range, CVSS vector, and Patchstack reference, but not the vulnerable parameter, proof details, or fixed version. Avoid assuming exploit availability or remediation specifics beyond vendor guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the most-and-least-read-posts-widget plugin and version.
- Check Patchstack, the vendor, or WordPress plugin guidance for a fixed release.
- Disable or remove the plugin if no safe supported version is available.
- Limit plugin administration and content-editing permissions to trusted users.
- Use existing WordPress security monitoring for unexpected script-like content or account activity.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether each WordPress site has the plugin installed and active.
- Record the installed plugin version and compare it with the affected range.
- Review user roles that can create or modify plugin-controlled content.
- Check security advisories for a named fixed version before closing remediation.
- Review recent WordPress admin activity for suspicious content changes.
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-2025-39549 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.
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:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L2.33.7PatchstackVulnerability 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
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.