WordPress 4.2.5 is an older version of the popular content management system that contains 13 known security vulnerabilities, including 1 critical flaw that could compromise your entire website. While only 6 websites currently run this version, those sites face serious risks from attackers exploiting these weaknesses. If your website still uses WordPress 4.2.5, you need to take immediate action to protect your data and visitors.
This guide will walk you through identifying whether your site is vulnerable, understanding the specific threats, and implementing fixes to secure your WordPress installation. We'll explain the technical details in simple terms so you can make informed decisions about your website's security.
Don't let outdated software put your business at risk—learn what you need to do today to protect your WordPress site from these dangerous vulnerabilities.
WordPress 4.2.5 is a Content Management System (CMS) released several years ago that allows you to build and manage websites without coding knowledge. It powers millions of websites worldwide and is designed to be user-friendly, making it popular for blogs, small business sites, and e-commerce stores. WordPress 4.2.5 specifically is a maintenance release that primarily focused on fixing bugs and performance improvements from earlier versions.
However, as with any software, WordPress 4.2.5 has vulnerabilities—security weaknesses that hackers can exploit. Think of vulnerabilities like unlocked doors in your digital house that attackers can use to break in. WordPress regularly releases updates to patch these holes, but older versions like 4.2.5 no longer receive security updates, making them increasingly dangerous as new exploits are discovered.
13 CVEs found. The most critical are explained below.
The LearnPress plugin has a serious security flaw that allows hackers to access your database by manipulating how the plugin sorts information. Attackers don't need to log in to exploit this weakness. This is one of the most dangerous types of attacks because it can expose all your sensitive data.
Impact: Hackers could steal student data, course information, user credentials, and any other information stored in your WordPress database. They could also modify or delete critical data.
↗ View on NVDThe AppPresser plugin creates very weak password reset codes that are easy to guess, and there's no limit on how many times someone can try to reset a password. This means attackers can easily take over user accounts without permission.
Impact: Attackers could gain unauthorized access to user accounts and admin areas, allowing them to modify content, steal data, or lock legitimate users out of their accounts.
↗ View on NVDThe LearnPress plugin has a critical flaw in its content function that allows attackers to run dangerous commands on your server. No login is required to exploit this vulnerability.
Impact: Attackers could take complete control of your website and server, install malware, steal all data, or shut down your site entirely.
↗ View on NVDThe Weglot multilingual plugin doesn't properly filter user input in its widgets, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that runs in visitors' browsers. This code can steal information or redirect users to harmful sites.
Impact: Visitors could have their personal information stolen, be infected with malware, or be tricked into fraudulent activities.
↗ View on NVDThe Forms Bridge plugin doesn't properly validate shortcode attributes, allowing attackers to inject harmful code through form IDs. Visitors see and potentially interact with this malicious code.
Impact: Visitors' browsers could be compromised, their data stolen, or they could be redirected to malicious websites.
↗ View on NVDThe adsense-click-fraud-monitoring plugin has an outdated vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts through search queries. While older, it can still be exploited if the plugin is installed.
Impact: Attackers could inject malware or redirect visitors to fraudulent sites, compromising their security and your site's reputation.
↗ View on NVDShowing first 10 of 7. View all on NVD ↗
| CVE ID | Severity | Score | Published | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2023-5558 | MEDIUM | 6.1 | 2024-01-16 | The LearnPress WordPress plugin before 4.2.5.5 does not sanitise and escape user input before outputting it back in the page, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting which cou… |
| CVE-2015-9425 | MEDIUM | 5.4 | 2019-09-26 | The social-locker plugin before 4.2.5 for WordPress has CSRF with resultant XSS via the wp-admin/edit.php?post_type=opanda-item&page=license-manager-sociallocker-next licensekey p… |
| CVE-2022-40223 | MEDIUM | 5.4 | 2022-11-08 | Nonce token leakage and missing authorization in SearchWP premium plugin <= 4.2.5 on WordPress leading to plugin settings change. |
| CVE-2025-11741 | MEDIUM | 5.3 | 2025-10-18 | The WPC Smart Quick View for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 4.2.5 via the 'woosq_quickview' AJAX endp… |
| CVE-2022-3894 | MEDIUM | 4.3 | 2023-03-20 | The WP OAuth Server (OAuth Authentication) WordPress plugin before 4.2.5 does not have CSRF check when deleting a client, and does not ensure that the object to be deleted is actu… |
| CVE-2023-6223 | MEDIUM | 4.3 | 2024-01-11 | The LearnPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Insecure Direct Object Reference in all versions up to, and including, 4.2.5.7 via the /wp-json/lp/v1/profile/course-tab REST … |
| CVE-2022-42494 | LOW | 3.0 | 2022-11-08 | Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in All in One SEO Pro plugin <= 4.2.5.1 on WordPress. |
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WordPress 4.2.5 poses serious security risks with 13 documented vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to steal data, inject malicious code, reset passwords without authorization, and compromise your entire website. Updating to a current WordPress version is not optional—it's essential for protecting your business, your customers' data, and your online reputation. The update process is straightforward and typically takes just minutes, making it one of the most important security investments you can make.
Don't wait for a security breach to force action. Use SiteRecipe.com's vulnerability scanner to identify all security issues on your WordPress site, get personalized recommendations for fixes, and track your security improvements over time. Our platform makes it easy to understand technical vulnerabilities in plain language and provides step-by-step guidance to resolve them. Visit SiteRecipe.com today for a free security assessment and take control of your website's protection.
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