Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A WordPress add-on called WP Super Edit (versions up to 2.5.4) has a flaw that lets an attacker craft a malicious link. If a logged-in user clicks it, the attacker's code runs in that user's browser session on the site. This can be used to steal sessions, trick admins, or deface pages.
Executive priority
Moderate priority. If the WP Super Edit plugin is installed on any WordPress site, schedule removal or replacement promptly. Plugin appears unmaintained, so a vendor patch may not arrive.
Technical view
CVE-2025-49948 is a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting issue (CWE-79) in the WP Super Edit WordPress plugin through version 2.5.4. CVSS 3.1 score is 7.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L). An unauthenticated attacker crafts a URL whose parameters are reflected unsanitized; when a victim loads it, attacker JavaScript executes in the site's origin, enabling session hijack, admin action abuse, or content tampering.
Likely exposure
Any WordPress site running the WP Super Edit plugin (wp-super-edit) at version 2.5.4 or earlier. The plugin appears legacy and largely unmaintained, so exposure is concentrated in older or rarely audited WordPress installations that retained it.
Exploitation context
No active exploitation is cited in the source bundle, and the CVE is not on CISA KEV. Reflected XSS typically requires social engineering (phishing link) to land in a victim's browser session. Public Patchstack advisory exists, increasing visibility to opportunistic attackers.
Researcher notes
CVSS 3.1 vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L indicates a network-reachable reflected XSS requiring user interaction with scope change, consistent with CWE-79. Affected component is the wp-super-edit plugin by Ahmad Awais; the source bundle lists no fixed version, suggesting no patched release is published. Validate by enumerating plugin installs across managed WordPress estates and cross-checking the Patchstack advisory for any later-disclosed fixed version or workaround.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the WP Super Edit plugin and confirm installed version.
- Deactivate and uninstall WP Super Edit if it is not actively required.
- Check Patchstack and the plugin page for any vendor-issued fix or replacement guidance.
- If the plugin must remain, restrict admin and editor access and enforce strong session controls.
- Add a web application firewall rule to filter reflected XSS payloads against WordPress endpoints.
Validation and detection
- Search WordPress installations for the wp-super-edit plugin directory and confirm the version string.
- Review HTTP request logs for unusual query parameters targeting plugin endpoints.
- Reproduce in a non-production WordPress instance to confirm the unpatched code path reflects user input.
- Confirm advisory status on Patchstack to see if a fixed release has since been published.
- Audit administrator and editor accounts for recent suspicious actions or session anomalies.
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-2025-49948 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.
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:L2.83.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability 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
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.