# CVE-2021-25008: Code Snippets < 2.14.3 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting

> Attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in victim browsers via reflected XSS in the Code Snippets WordPress plugin.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vwwf-8mvf-74w3

## What is CVE-2021-25008?

CVE-2021-25008 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Unknown Code Snippets, published on 24 Jan 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The Code Snippets WordPress plugin before 2.14.3 does not escape the snippets-safe-mode parameter before outputting it back in attributes, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting issue

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-25008?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Codesnippets Code Snippets.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-25008?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-25008 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-25008 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-25008 exists.

Public exploit code:

- The Code Snippets WordPress Plugin < 2.14.3 - Cross-Site Scripting (nuclei): http/cves/2021/CVE-2021-25008.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Code Snippets

- [CVE-2020-8417](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8417/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-25617](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-25617/): WordPress Code Snippets plugin <= 2.14.3 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability (medium 4.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-25008 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-25008 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Unknown Code Snippets, published on 24 Jan 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2021-25008 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Code Snippets. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-25008/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-25008/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-25008
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-25008
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-25008

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-25008/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.