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 (CWE-79), where the 'asin' attribute in the affiai_img shortcode is not adequately sanitized or escaped before rendering. This flaw allows authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into WordPress pages. Because the malicious script is stored persistently, it executes whenever any user accesses the infected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or manipulating page content. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, and privileges required but no user interaction. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. Although no public exploits are currently known, the risk is significant due to the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin in question. The vulnerability requires contributor-level access, which is a moderate barrier but still feasible in many environments, especially those with multiple content editors. The lack of patch links suggests that a fix may not yet be available, increasing the urgency for mitigation. The vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality and integrity, with no direct availability impact. The technical root cause is insufficient input validation and output encoding in the plugin's shortcode processing logic, a common vector for stored XSS in WordPress plugins.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk, particularly for those relying on WordPress sites with the Affiliate AI Lite plugin installed. Attackers with contributor-level access can exploit this flaw to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of site visitors, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users. This can erode user trust, damage brand reputation, and lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is compromised. E-commerce sites and content-heavy platforms are especially vulnerable to exploitation that could impact customer data confidentiality and integrity. The requirement for authenticated access reduces the risk from external anonymous attackers but does not eliminate it, as insider threats or compromised contributor accounts can be leveraged. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests limited current exploitation but also indicates a window of opportunity for attackers before patches are widely deployed. The medium severity rating aligns with the potential for targeted attacks rather than widespread automated exploitation. Organizations with high traffic or sensitive user data should consider this vulnerability a priority to address.

1. Immediately review and restrict contributor-level access on WordPress sites to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of insider exploitation. 2. Monitor and audit user activity logs for unusual shortcode usage or content changes that could indicate attempted exploitation. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting the 'asin' shortcode attribute. 4. Apply strict input validation and output encoding in custom shortcode implementations if the plugin is customized or extended. 5. If a patch becomes available from the vendor, prioritize its deployment across all affected systems. 6. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the Affiliate AI Lite plugin until a secure version is released. 7. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce secure content creation policies. 8. Regularly scan WordPress installations with security plugins that can detect stored XSS and other vulnerabilities. 9. Back up website data frequently to enable quick recovery in case of compromise. 10. Engage in proactive threat hunting for signs of exploitation attempts within the network and website logs.