CVE-2025-11186 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, found in the 'Cookie Notice & Compliance for GDPR / CCPA' WordPress plugin developed by humanityco. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 2.5.8 due to insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes in the plugin's cookies_accepted shortcode. This flaw allows authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. Because the malicious script is stored and executed whenever any user accesses the infected page, it can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or theft of sensitive information. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4, indicating medium severity, with an attack vector of network (remote), low attack complexity, requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction, and scope change. No public exploits are currently known, but the risk remains significant due to the ease of exploitation by authenticated users. The plugin is widely used for cookie compliance, especially in regions enforcing GDPR and CCPA regulations, making it a critical component in privacy management on WordPress sites. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, especially those handling user-generated content or attributes.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of user data, particularly given the plugin's role in managing cookie consent under GDPR compliance. Exploitation could allow attackers to hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, or perform unauthorized actions on affected websites, potentially leading to data breaches or reputational damage. Since the vulnerability requires contributor-level access, insider threats or compromised accounts could facilitate exploitation. The widespread use of WordPress across Europe, combined with strict data protection laws, means that affected organizations could face regulatory penalties if personal data is compromised. Additionally, the stored XSS could be used to deliver further malware or phishing attacks targeting European users. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits after public disclosure.

1. Monitor for and apply plugin updates from humanityco as soon as a security patch addressing CVE-2025-11186 is released. 2. Until a patch is available, restrict contributor-level and higher privileges to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious script injection. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious script injections targeting the cookies_accepted shortcode. 4. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected web pages. 5. Conduct regular security audits and code reviews for customizations involving the plugin to ensure proper input sanitization and output encoding. 6. Educate site administrators and contributors about the risks of XSS and safe content management practices. 7. Consider alternative GDPR/CCPA compliance plugins with a stronger security track record if immediate patching is not feasible. 8. Monitor logs for unusual activity or signs of exploitation attempts related to this vulnerability.