CVE-2025-11254 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-1236, concerning improper neutralization of formula elements in CSV files generated by the Contest Gallery – Upload, Vote & Sell with PayPal and Stripe WordPress plugin. This plugin, widely used for managing contests and galleries with integrated payment options, allows users to submit entries that are later exported as CSV files. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to sanitize or neutralize input fields that are embedded into CSV exports, enabling attackers to insert malicious spreadsheet formulas (e.g., starting with '=', '+', '-', or '@'). When a victim downloads and opens the CSV file in spreadsheet applications, these formulas can execute, potentially running arbitrary commands or scripts on the local machine. The attack vector requires no authentication, as submissions can be made by unauthenticated users, but does require the victim to open the malicious CSV file, thus involving user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting the lack of confidentiality impact and the need for user action. No patches or updates are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. This vulnerability highlights the risk of CSV Injection attacks in web applications that export user-generated content without proper sanitization.

For European organizations using the affected WordPress plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to data integrity and endpoint security. Attackers can craft malicious contest submissions that, when exported and opened by staff or administrators, execute arbitrary code on their local machines. This can lead to malware infection, credential theft, or lateral movement within the organization. Although the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or availability, the resulting code execution can facilitate broader attacks. Organizations relying on contest or gallery data exports for business processes may inadvertently introduce this risk. The medium severity score reflects the need for user interaction and the limited scope of impact, but the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin in European SMBs and e-commerce sectors increases exposure. Additionally, organizations with less mature endpoint security or limited user awareness are more vulnerable to exploitation.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately implement input sanitization or neutralization for CSV exports by escaping or prefixing formula characters ('=', '+', '-', '@') in user-submitted data fields. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling CSV export functionality or restricting access to exported files to trusted personnel only. Educate users and administrators about the risks of opening CSV files from untrusted sources and encourage the use of spreadsheet software with formula execution disabled or protected view enabled. Monitor plugin updates closely and apply patches promptly once available. Additionally, implement endpoint security controls such as application whitelisting and behavior-based detection to prevent malicious code execution from spreadsheet applications. Regularly audit contest submissions for suspicious input patterns and consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block malicious payloads targeting this vulnerability.