CVE-2025-13031 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WPeMatico RSS Feed Fetcher WordPress plugin prior to version 2.8.13. The root cause is the plugin's failure to sanitize and escape certain user-configurable settings properly. This flaw allows users with contributor-level privileges or higher to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that are stored persistently within the plugin's settings. When other users, including administrators or editors, access the affected pages or plugin settings, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of authentication tokens, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or defacement of the website. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input during web page generation. Although exploitation requires contributor-level access, which is a relatively high privilege, many WordPress sites grant such roles to multiple users, increasing the attack surface. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be treated as a credible threat. The absence of a CVSS score necessitates an independent severity assessment based on impact and exploitability factors. The vulnerability affects all versions before 2.8.13, and no official patches or updates are linked in the provided data, but upgrading to the fixed version is recommended. The plugin is widely used in WordPress environments that automate RSS feed fetching and content aggregation, making it a relevant target for attackers aiming to compromise content management systems.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can have serious consequences, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with multiple contributors managing content. Exploitation could result in unauthorized access to administrative functions, data leakage, or defacement of public-facing websites, damaging reputation and trust. Confidentiality is at risk due to potential session hijacking and theft of sensitive information. Integrity can be compromised by unauthorized content changes or injection of malicious scripts. Availability impact is generally limited but could occur if attackers disrupt site functionality or trigger administrative lockouts. Organizations in sectors such as media, education, government, and e-commerce, which often use WordPress and allow contributor roles, are particularly vulnerable. The stored nature of the XSS means the malicious payload persists, increasing the likelihood of exposure to multiple users. Given the absence of known exploits, proactive mitigation is critical to prevent future attacks. The threat also aligns with the growing trend of targeting CMS platforms in Europe, where WordPress holds a significant market share.

1. Immediately update the WPeMatico RSS Feed Fetcher plugin to version 2.8.13 or later once available to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Restrict contributor-level privileges to trusted users only, minimizing the number of accounts that can exploit this vulnerability. 3. Implement strict input validation and output encoding policies within the WordPress environment and any custom plugins or themes. 4. Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting WordPress plugins. 5. Regularly audit user roles and permissions to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. 6. Monitor logs and user activity for suspicious behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and encourage secure content management practices. 8. Consider isolating or sandboxing plugin settings pages to reduce the impact scope if exploitation occurs. 9. Backup WordPress sites regularly to enable quick recovery in case of compromise. 10. Stay informed about updates from the plugin vendor and security advisories related to WordPress plugins.