CVE-2025-11185 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified in the Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 7.4.3. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically within the cmplz-accept-link shortcode. Authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages by exploiting insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. When other users access these compromised pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, unauthorized actions, or data theft. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, indicating medium severity, with an attack vector over the network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges (authenticated contributor), no user interaction, and a scope change due to the impact on other users. No known public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of the plugin for GDPR and CCPA compliance on WordPress sites. The flaw affects confidentiality and integrity but not availability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, especially those handling user-generated content or dynamic shortcode attributes. Organizations using this plugin should monitor for updates from the vendor and consider temporary mitigations until patches are available.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-11185 on European organizations lies in the potential compromise of user data confidentiality and website integrity. Since the vulnerability allows authenticated contributors to inject malicious scripts, attackers could execute actions on behalf of other users, steal session cookies, or manipulate page content. This is particularly concerning for organizations subject to GDPR, as exploitation could lead to unauthorized data exposure or manipulation, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The scope of the vulnerability includes all WordPress sites using the affected plugin versions, which are commonly deployed across European businesses for cookie consent management. The attack does not affect availability but can undermine trust in the website and lead to further exploitation chains. Given the medium severity and requirement for authenticated access, the threat is moderate but significant for organizations with multiple contributors or less stringent access controls. The vulnerability also poses risks to e-commerce, governmental, and healthcare sectors in Europe, where data protection is critical.

To mitigate CVE-2025-11185, European organizations should immediately review and restrict contributor-level access to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of malicious shortcode injection. Implement strict input validation and output escaping on any user-supplied attributes within WordPress shortcodes, especially those related to the Complianz plugin. Monitor website content and logs for unusual shortcode usage or unexpected script injections. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting XSS payloads to provide an additional layer of defense. Regularly update the Complianz plugin to the latest version once the vendor releases a patch addressing this vulnerability. In the interim, consider disabling or limiting the use of the cmplz-accept-link shortcode if feasible. Conduct security awareness training for content contributors to recognize the risks of injecting untrusted content. Finally, perform periodic security audits and penetration testing focused on plugin vulnerabilities and user privilege misuse.