CVE-2025-10496 identifies a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Cookie Notice & Consent plugin for WordPress, developed by christophrado. This vulnerability exists in all plugin versions up to and including 1.6.5 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of the 'uuid' parameter. An attacker can craft a malicious payload that, when stored by the plugin, executes arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of any user visiting the affected page. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.2 reflects a high severity, with a vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C), impacting confidentiality and integrity but not availability. The stored XSS can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, potentially compromising sensitive data and user trust. No official patch links are currently available, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability's characteristics make it a prime target for attackers. The CWE-80 classification highlights the root cause as improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags, a common web application security flaw. Organizations using this plugin should consider immediate mitigation steps to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-10496 can be significant, particularly for those operating WordPress-based websites that use the Cookie Notice & Consent plugin. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user information, including session cookies and personal data, violating GDPR requirements and potentially resulting in regulatory fines. The integrity of website content can be compromised, undermining user trust and damaging brand reputation. Attackers could leverage the vulnerability to perform phishing attacks, redirect users to malicious sites, or conduct further attacks within the victim's network. Public sector websites, e-commerce platforms, and service providers are especially at risk due to their high visibility and user base. The lack of required authentication and user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the likelihood of automated attacks. Additionally, the scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially impacting other integrated systems or plugins. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive defense, but organizations must act swiftly to mitigate risks.

1. Monitor for official patches or updates from the plugin developer and apply them immediately once released. 2. In the absence of patches, implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the 'uuid' parameter, focusing on script tags and suspicious input patterns. 3. Conduct a thorough review of all input handling related to the plugin, ensuring proper input validation and output encoding consistent with OWASP guidelines. 4. Restrict plugin usage to trusted administrators and limit exposure by disabling or removing the plugin if not essential. 5. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected web pages. 6. Regularly audit website logs for unusual requests or payloads targeting the vulnerable parameter. 7. Educate web administrators and developers about the risks of stored XSS and secure coding practices. 8. Consider isolating or sandboxing affected components to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 9. Backup website data regularly to enable quick recovery in case of compromise. 10. Engage in proactive threat hunting and vulnerability scanning to detect exploitation attempts early.