CVE-2025-11576 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-1236, which pertains to improper neutralization of formula elements in CSV files. The affected product is the 'AI Chatbot Free Models – Customer Support, Live Chat, Virtual Assistant' plugin for WordPress, versions up to and including 1.6.5. The vulnerability exists in the 'newcodebyte_chatbot_export_messages' function, which exports chat messages into CSV format without adequately sanitizing user-supplied input. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to inject malicious formula expressions (e.g., starting with '=', '+', '-', or '@') into CSV files. When these files are downloaded and opened in spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc, the embedded formulas can execute, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or data manipulation on the victim's local system. The attack vector requires no authentication but does require the victim to open the malicious CSV file, implying user interaction is necessary. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting the network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction and impacting integrity only. No patches or known exploits are currently reported, but the vulnerability poses a risk especially in environments where exported CSV files are shared or downloaded frequently. The lack of sanitization is a common issue in CSV export functionalities, making this a notable example of CSV Injection risks in WordPress plugins.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to several impacts. Primarily, it threatens data integrity by allowing attackers to inject malicious formulas that can alter data or execute commands when opened in spreadsheet software. This can result in unauthorized code execution on local machines, potentially leading to further compromise or data leakage. Organizations relying on this plugin for customer support or live chat may inadvertently distribute malicious CSV files to employees or partners, increasing the attack surface. The unauthenticated nature of the vulnerability means attackers can exploit it remotely without credentials, though user interaction is required. This elevates the risk of social engineering attacks targeting employees who handle exported CSV data. Additionally, the reputational damage and operational disruption from such an attack could be significant, especially for organizations handling sensitive customer data or operating in regulated sectors. The medium CVSS score reflects moderate risk, but the real-world impact depends on the frequency of CSV exports and user awareness. Since no known exploits are reported yet, proactive mitigation is critical to prevent exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2025-11576, organizations should first monitor for and apply any official patches or updates released by the plugin vendor promptly. In the absence of patches, implement input sanitization on all data exported to CSV files by neutralizing or escaping formula characters such as '=', '+', '-', and '@' at the start of any cell content. This can be done by prefixing these characters with a single quote or other safe characters to prevent formula execution. Restrict access to the CSV export functionality to trusted users only, and implement logging and monitoring to detect unusual export activities. Educate users to be cautious when opening CSV files from untrusted sources and consider disabling automatic formula evaluation in spreadsheet applications where possible. Additionally, consider using alternative export formats less prone to injection, such as JSON or XML, if supported. Regularly audit WordPress plugins for vulnerabilities and maintain an inventory of installed plugins to quickly identify and remediate risks. Employ network-level protections to limit exposure of the export functionality to external attackers.