CVE-2025-11872 identifies a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Material Design Iconic Font Integration plugin for WordPress, specifically within the 'mdiconic' shortcode functionality. This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of user-supplied input, where the plugin fails to adequately sanitize and escape attributes provided by authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher. As a result, these users can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages or posts, which is then stored persistently and executed in the browsers of any users who view the compromised content. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including version 2 of the plugin. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity level, with an attack vector of network (remote exploitation), low attack complexity, requiring privileges (contributor or higher), no user interaction, and a scope change. The impact primarily affects confidentiality and integrity, as malicious scripts can steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or manipulate page content. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which covers improper input neutralization during web page generation. Given the plugin's integration with WordPress, a widely used content management system, this vulnerability can affect a broad range of websites, especially those allowing contributor-level user roles. The persistent nature of the XSS increases the risk of widespread impact once exploited.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites running WordPress with the affected plugin, especially those that allow contributor-level user roles. Exploitation can lead to theft of sensitive user data such as authentication cookies, enabling session hijacking and unauthorized actions within the website context. This can result in defacement, data leakage, or unauthorized content modification, undermining user trust and potentially violating data protection regulations like GDPR. The persistent nature of the stored XSS means that any visitor to the compromised page can be affected, increasing the attack surface. Organizations relying on WordPress for customer-facing or internal portals may face reputational damage and operational disruption. Additionally, attackers could leverage this vulnerability as a foothold for further attacks within the network or to distribute malware. The medium CVSS score reflects moderate ease of exploitation and impact, but the requirement for contributor-level access limits exposure to some extent. However, in environments where contributor roles are widely assigned or where user account security is lax, the risk escalates. European sectors with high web presence, such as e-commerce, media, and public services, are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on WordPress and potential for targeted attacks.

1. Immediately audit and restrict user roles on WordPress sites to minimize the number of users with contributor-level or higher privileges, ensuring only trusted users have such access. 2. Implement strict input validation and output escaping for all shortcode attributes, either by applying custom filters or using security plugins that enforce sanitization. 3. Monitor and review content created or edited by contributors for suspicious shortcode usage or unexpected script injections. 4. If possible, disable or remove the Material Design Iconic Font Integration plugin until a patched version is released. 5. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block XSS payloads targeting shortcode attributes. 6. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce security best practices for content creation. 7. Regularly update WordPress core, themes, and plugins to incorporate security patches promptly once available. 8. Use Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected sites, mitigating the impact of potential XSS attacks. 9. Conduct periodic security assessments and penetration tests focusing on plugin vulnerabilities and user privilege misuse. 10. Maintain comprehensive logging and alerting to detect anomalous activities related to shortcode usage or script injection attempts.