CVE-2025-11994 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Easy Email Subscription plugin for WordPress, developed by yudiz. The vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically in the handling of the 'name' parameter. All versions up to and including 1.3 are affected. An attacker can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious JavaScript code into the 'name' field, which is then stored and rendered on web pages viewed by other users. Because the plugin fails to adequately sanitize and escape this input, the injected script executes in the victim's browser context without requiring authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2, indicating high severity, with the vector showing network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and scope changed. The impact includes partial loss of confidentiality and integrity, as attackers can steal cookies, session tokens, or perform actions on behalf of users. Although no public exploits are reported yet, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat. The plugin is commonly used on WordPress sites for email subscription management, which are prevalent in small to medium enterprises and content-driven websites. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to widespread compromise of user accounts and site integrity, especially in environments where the plugin is active and unpatched.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-11994 can be substantial. Many European businesses rely on WordPress for their web presence, including e-commerce, informational, and community sites that use the Easy Email Subscription plugin to manage mailing lists. Exploitation of this stored XSS vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, theft of sensitive information such as personal data protected under GDPR, and potential defacement or manipulation of website content. This can result in reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and loss of customer trust. Additionally, attackers could use the vulnerability as a foothold to conduct further attacks within the organization's network or to distribute malware. The fact that no authentication or user interaction is required increases the risk of automated exploitation campaigns targeting vulnerable sites across Europe. The scope of affected systems includes all WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin versions, which may be numerous given WordPress's market share in Europe. The cross-site scripting flaw also threatens the integrity of communications with subscribers, potentially undermining marketing and customer engagement efforts.

1. Immediate action should be to monitor for an official patch or update from yudiz and apply it as soon as it becomes available. 2. In the absence of a patch, implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically designed to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the 'name' parameter in the Easy Email Subscription plugin. 3. Employ input validation and output encoding at the application level to sanitize user inputs and prevent script injection. 4. Disable or remove the Easy Email Subscription plugin if it is not essential to reduce attack surface. 5. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans on WordPress installations to identify and remediate outdated or vulnerable plugins. 6. Educate website administrators and users about the risks of XSS attacks and encourage vigilance against suspicious emails or links that could exploit this vulnerability. 7. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected sites. 8. Monitor web server logs and user activity for signs of exploitation attempts or unusual behavior. 9. Backup website data regularly to enable quick restoration in case of compromise. 10. Coordinate with hosting providers to ensure security controls are in place and updated.