CVE-2025-11818 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WP Responsive Meet The Team plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.0.1. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of user-supplied input within the 'wprm_team' shortcode attributes, where insufficient input sanitization and output escaping allow authenticated users with contributor-level privileges or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. When a page containing the injected shortcode is accessed, the malicious script executes in the context of the victim's browser. This can lead to session hijacking, privilege escalation, defacement, or the delivery of further malicious payloads. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, requiring privileges (authenticated contributor or higher), no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity with a scope change (potentially affecting other users). No known public exploits have been reported yet. The plugin is widely used in WordPress environments to showcase team members, making it a common target in websites with multiple contributors. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the attacker to have at least contributor access, which is a moderate barrier but feasible in many collaborative environments. The lack of output escaping and input sanitization indicates a coding oversight that can be remediated by applying proper security controls in the plugin's shortcode processing logic. Until a patch is released, administrators should consider restricting contributor access or applying custom filters to sanitize inputs. Monitoring logs for unusual shortcode usage and reviewing user privileges can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to websites running WordPress with the WP Responsive Meet The Team plugin installed. The impact includes potential compromise of user sessions, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, and exposure of sensitive information through malicious scripts. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and facilitate further attacks such as phishing or malware distribution. Organizations with collaborative content management environments where multiple users have contributor or higher privileges are particularly vulnerable. The confidentiality and integrity of website content and user data are at risk, though availability is not directly affected. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe, especially among SMEs and public sector websites, the vulnerability could be leveraged to target high-profile or sensitive sites. Additionally, the cross-site scripting flaw could be used to bypass security controls or inject persistent malicious content, increasing the attack surface. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but should not lead to complacency, as attackers often develop exploits rapidly after disclosure. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it is not critical, but it requires timely remediation to prevent exploitation.

1. Monitor for and apply official patches or updates from the plugin vendor as soon as they become available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious shortcode injection. 3. Implement strict input validation and output escaping on all user-supplied data related to the 'wprm_team' shortcode, either via custom code or security plugins that sanitize shortcode attributes. 4. Use Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block XSS payloads targeting WordPress shortcodes. 5. Conduct regular audits of user roles and permissions to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. 6. Monitor website logs and content changes for unusual shortcode usage or unexpected script injections. 7. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and encourage reporting of suspicious behavior. 8. Consider disabling or replacing the vulnerable plugin with a more secure alternative if immediate patching is not feasible. 9. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected websites. 10. Backup website data regularly to enable quick recovery in case of compromise.