CVE-2025-11799 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Affiliate AI Lite plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting all versions up to and including 1.0.1. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. The flaw exists in the handling of the 'asin' attribute within the affiai_img shortcode, where insufficient input sanitization and output escaping allow an authenticated attacker with contributor-level privileges or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. This malicious script is stored persistently in the WordPress database and executes whenever any user accesses the infected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of users. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, indicating medium severity, with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, privileges required at the contributor level, no user interaction needed, and a scope change affecting confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the ease of exploitation by authenticated users and the widespread use of WordPress and its plugins. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, especially in plugins that extend CMS functionality and handle user-generated content.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to websites running WordPress with the Affiliate AI Lite plugin installed. Attackers with contributor-level access can exploit the flaw to inject malicious scripts, leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive user data, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, and potential website defacement. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to data breaches, and cause financial losses. E-commerce platforms and content-heavy sites are particularly vulnerable as they often rely on plugins like Affiliate AI Lite to manage affiliate marketing content. The persistent nature of the stored XSS increases the attack surface, affecting all visitors to the compromised pages. Given the medium severity, the impact is significant but can be mitigated with proper controls. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often target CMS plugins. Organizations that do not restrict contributor-level access or lack monitoring of plugin vulnerabilities are at higher risk.

1. Monitor the vendor’s announcements and apply official patches or updates for Affiliate AI Lite as soon as they become available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only and review user permissions to minimize the number of users who can exploit this vulnerability. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the 'asin' shortcode attribute. 4. Conduct manual code reviews or apply custom input validation and output encoding for the 'asin' attribute in the affiai_img shortcode to sanitize inputs and prevent script injection. 5. Regularly audit WordPress plugins for vulnerabilities and remove or replace plugins that are no longer maintained or have known security issues. 6. Educate content contributors about safe input practices and the risks of injecting untrusted content. 7. Monitor website logs for unusual activity or injection attempts related to the affected shortcode. 8. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected web pages.