CVE-2025-13614 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Cool Tag Cloud plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 2.29. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), specifically due to insufficient sanitization and output escaping of user-supplied attributes in the 'cool_tag_cloud' shortcode. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages where the shortcode is used. Because the malicious script is stored persistently, it executes in the context of any user who views the infected page, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L). The attacker must have some level of authenticated access (PR:L), but no additional privileges beyond contributor are needed. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity (C:H/I:H) but does not affect availability (A:N). Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the high CVSS score of 8.1 reflects the serious risk posed by this vulnerability in web environments where the plugin is installed. The lack of official patches at the time of reporting increases the urgency for mitigation through access control and monitoring.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites running WordPress with the Cool Tag Cloud plugin installed. Attackers with contributor-level access can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors, potentially leading to theft of user credentials, session tokens, or other sensitive data. This can result in unauthorized access to user accounts, defacement, or further compromise of the website and its users. Organizations relying on WordPress for content management, especially those with multiple contributors or editors, are at heightened risk. The impact extends to the confidentiality and integrity of user data and organizational reputation. Given the widespread use of WordPress across Europe, particularly in sectors such as media, education, and e-commerce, exploitation could disrupt business operations and erode customer trust. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the vulnerability’s ease of exploitation and high severity necessitate immediate attention.

1. Immediately audit user roles and permissions on WordPress sites using the Cool Tag Cloud plugin, restricting contributor-level access to trusted users only. 2. Temporarily disable or remove the Cool Tag Cloud plugin until a security patch or update is released by the vendor. 3. Implement strict input validation and output escaping for any shortcode attributes if custom modifications are feasible. 4. Monitor website logs and shortcode usage for unusual or unauthorized activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce content submission policies. 6. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting the shortcode parameters. 7. Once available, promptly apply official patches or updates from the plugin vendor. 8. Conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scans focusing on WordPress plugins and user privileges. 9. Consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the impact of potential script injections. 10. Backup website data regularly to enable quick recovery if compromise occurs.