CVE-2025-12076 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Social Media Auto Publish plugin for WordPress, developed by f1logic. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.6.5. The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically insufficient sanitization and escaping of the PostMessage parameter. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious URL containing a payload in the PostMessage parameter and tricking a user into clicking it. Upon interaction, the injected script executes in the context of the victim's browser, potentially allowing theft of sensitive information such as session cookies, manipulation of the DOM, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability does not require authentication but does require user interaction (clicking a link). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction necessary. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been published as of the date of disclosure. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which is a common and well-understood class of web application security issues. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of social media publishing plugins, this vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns to compromise user sessions or deface websites.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-12076 can be significant, particularly for those relying heavily on WordPress for their web presence and using the Social Media Auto Publish plugin for content distribution. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of user credentials or session tokens, enabling account takeover or unauthorized actions on behalf of users. This compromises confidentiality and integrity of user data and website content. Although availability is not directly impacted, successful exploitation could damage organizational reputation and trust, especially for e-commerce, media, and public sector websites. The vulnerability could also facilitate further attacks such as phishing or malware distribution by injecting malicious scripts. Organizations with large user bases or those in regulated sectors (e.g., finance, healthcare) face increased compliance risks if user data is compromised. The requirement for user interaction limits mass exploitation but targeted spear-phishing campaigns remain a viable threat vector. The absence of patches increases the window of exposure, necessitating immediate mitigations to reduce risk.

1. Immediately audit all WordPress installations to identify instances of the Social Media Auto Publish plugin and verify the version in use. 2. Until an official patch is released, disable or remove the vulnerable plugin to eliminate the attack surface. 3. Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of injected scripts. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the PostMessage parameter. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking unsolicited or suspicious links, especially those appearing in emails or social media. 6. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual requests containing suspicious PostMessage parameters. 7. Prepare to apply patches promptly once available and test them in staging environments before deployment. 8. Consider additional input validation and output encoding at the application level if custom modifications are possible. 9. Regularly update all WordPress plugins and core installations to minimize exposure to known vulnerabilities. 10. Conduct security awareness campaigns focusing on phishing and social engineering tactics that could exploit this vulnerability.