CVE-2025-10701 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified in the Time Clock – A WordPress Employee & Volunteer Time Clock Plugin, which is used to manage employee and volunteer time tracking within WordPress sites. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.3.1 due to insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied input in the 'data' parameter. Authenticated users with Time Clock access can inject arbitrary JavaScript code that is stored persistently and executed in the context of other users who view the affected pages. This type of XSS (CWE-79) can lead to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of other users. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have valid Time Clock user credentials, but does not require additional user interaction beyond page access. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.4 reflects a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and privileges required. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the risk remains significant for organizations relying on this plugin for workforce management. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, especially those handling authenticated user input.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant in environments where the Time Clock plugin is used to manage employee or volunteer attendance and scheduling. Exploitation could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts that compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress site. This could lead to data breaches involving employee information, disruption of workforce management processes, and potential lateral movement within the network if attackers escalate privileges. The confidentiality and integrity of user data are primarily at risk, while availability is not directly impacted. Organizations with large numbers of authenticated users or those that integrate the plugin with other internal systems may face higher risks. Additionally, compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations may be jeopardized if personal data is exposed or manipulated. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often target WordPress plugins due to their widespread use.

1. Monitor for an official patch or update from the plugin vendor and apply it immediately upon release. 2. Until a patch is available, restrict Time Clock plugin user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the risk of malicious input. 3. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules specifically designed to detect and block XSS payloads targeting the 'data' parameter. 4. Conduct regular security audits and code reviews of custom WordPress plugins and configurations to identify similar input validation issues. 5. Educate users with Time Clock access about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce strong authentication mechanisms. 6. Consider isolating the WordPress environment or using containerization to limit the impact of a potential compromise. 7. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts within the WordPress site. 8. Regularly back up WordPress data and configurations to enable quick recovery in case of compromise.