CVE-2025-14028 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Contact Us Simple Form plugin for WordPress, developed by bruterdregz. This vulnerability exists in all plugin versions up to and including 1.0. The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes within the plugin's admin settings interface. An attacker with authenticated administrator-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into the plugin's settings. Because the malicious script is stored persistently, it executes every time a user accesses the affected page, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions or enabling further attacks such as privilege escalation or data theft. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.4, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating network attack vector, high attack complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and a scope change. No public exploits have been reported so far, but the vulnerability poses a risk in environments where multiple administrators manage WordPress sites using this plugin. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which is a common and impactful web application security weakness. The absence of patches at the time of reporting necessitates immediate attention to access controls and monitoring.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the Contact Us Simple Form plugin installed. The ability of an authenticated administrator to inject malicious scripts can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of other users, and potential data leakage. This can undermine user trust, damage brand reputation, and lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is exposed. Public sector websites, e-commerce platforms, and corporate portals are particularly at risk due to their reliance on WordPress and the presence of multiple administrators. The medium CVSS score indicates moderate risk; however, the requirement for administrator privileges limits the attack surface to insider threats or compromised admin accounts. Still, the scope change means the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the plugin itself, potentially impacting the entire WordPress installation and connected systems. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability becomes widely known.

1. Immediately restrict administrator-level access to trusted personnel only and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of compromised admin accounts. 2. Monitor and audit all administrative actions within WordPress to detect suspicious behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 3. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or removing the Contact Us Simple Form plugin if feasible, or replace it with a more secure alternative. 4. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that can detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting the plugin’s admin interface. 5. Educate administrators about the risks of stored XSS and the importance of cautious input handling when configuring plugin settings. 6. Once patches become available, apply them promptly and verify that input sanitization and output escaping are correctly enforced. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on WordPress plugins and administrative interfaces. 8. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the impact of any injected scripts by restricting script sources and execution contexts.