Hello! If you are responsible for hosting, or have a authorized interest in protecting websites generally, you might want to keep yourself updated about the newest vulnerability, called CVE-2025-11875. I recently found out about it, and I'll say it is an important reminder that minor mistakes by plugin authors can lead to serious security implications.
This is a stored XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) vulnerability, meaning that a user with limited access to a site, such as a contributor-level user, could insert bad code that is executed every time a user visits the page.
• Data leakage: The attacker could steal personal information or passwords
• Breach of trust: If the client knows that a plugin caused the problem, they may still blame the hosting provider
• Wider risks: If one site gets hacked on a shared hosting server, other sites on the same server could also be infected
I have seen it before—it is a nightmare to clean up from.
1. Keeping everything up to date
But don't panic—everything can be mitigated by staying updated, using a WAF, reviewing logs, and coaching your clients on good habits to preempt most attacks rather than respond to them.
At the end of the day, think "Security Routine" instead of "Security Reaction."
So, maybe once you finish reading this, complete a short plugin audit on your servers, so you thank yourself later!
What is CVE-2025-11875?
This vulnerability was found in a WordPress plugin called SpendeOnline.org (version ≤ 3.0.1).This is a stored XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) vulnerability, meaning that a user with limited access to a site, such as a contributor-level user, could insert bad code that is executed every time a user visits the page.
Why should this matter to hosting providers?
If you are a hosting provider, or if you're managing sites for clients, this sort of bug can inflict catastrophic damage:• Data leakage: The attacker could steal personal information or passwords
• Breach of trust: If the client knows that a plugin caused the problem, they may still blame the hosting provider
• Wider risks: If one site gets hacked on a shared hosting server, other sites on the same server could also be infected
I have seen it before—it is a nightmare to clean up from.
What can hosting providers do?
We’ll take a step-by-step view for keeping you secure.1. Keeping everything up to date
- Update or remove the SpendeOnline.org Plugin immediately.
- Make sure that your WordPress core, themes, plugins are always up to date.
- I often run a “plugin check-up” every month to stay ahead of potential issues.
- Make sure your system is checking and cleaning any user input before saving it.
- Use output escaping, so even if bad code makes it into your system it won’t run.
- We can’t eliminate all bad code, but taking small steps like this will save you headaches later.
- A WAF can block numerous XSS and hacking attempts that you wouldn’t want to reach your website.
- I’ve used WAFs on shared hosting platforms and they are lifesavers!
- Pay attention to site activity on the server as well as installed plugin changes.
- If you notice any unusual scripts, logging in, or uploading, investigate them as soon as you can.
- Regular scans help identify issues early.
5. Educate your users
- Advise your clients to only install plugins they trust.
- Ask your users to check for updates on a regular basis.
- Most breaches happen simply due to outdated plugins.
Final Considerations
CVE-2025-11875 illustrates how a minuscule bug in a plugin can grant hackers major access.But don't panic—everything can be mitigated by staying updated, using a WAF, reviewing logs, and coaching your clients on good habits to preempt most attacks rather than respond to them.
At the end of the day, think "Security Routine" instead of "Security Reaction."
So, maybe once you finish reading this, complete a short plugin audit on your servers, so you thank yourself later!
