CVE-2025-14053 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, found in the WordPress plugin 'Travel Bucket List – Wish To Go' developed by jseto. This vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including 0.5.2. The root cause is insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied shortcode attributes, which allows authenticated users with Contributor-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. When other users visit these pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially compromising session tokens, redirecting users, or performing actions on their behalf. The vulnerability requires authentication but no user interaction, and the scope is limited to sites using this specific plugin. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.4 reflects a medium severity, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and partial impact on confidentiality and integrity but no impact on availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to WordPress sites that allow multiple contributors and use this plugin for travel-related content. The lack of a patch at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention to input validation and output escaping practices.

For European organizations, especially those operating travel, tourism, or content-rich websites using WordPress, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized script execution, resulting in session hijacking, data theft, defacement, or distribution of malware. The impact on confidentiality and integrity can undermine user trust and lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data is compromised. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts pose a significant risk. The stored nature of the XSS means that once injected, the malicious script persists and affects all visitors to the infected page, amplifying the potential damage. Organizations relying on this plugin for customer engagement or travel planning may face reputational damage and operational disruption if exploited.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations for the presence of the 'Travel Bucket List – Wish To Go' plugin and identify versions up to 0.5.2. Until an official patch is released, restrict Contributor-level access to trusted users only and monitor contributor activities closely. Implement manual input sanitization and output escaping for shortcode attributes if feasible. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block malicious script patterns in shortcode inputs. Regularly scan websites for injected scripts or anomalous content. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content. Once a patch is available, prioritize prompt updates. Additionally, enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all contributor accounts to reduce the risk of account compromise.