CVE-2025-14057 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Multi-column Tag Map plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 17.0.39. The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), specifically insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the plugin's admin settings interface. This flaw allows an authenticated attacker with administrator-level permissions or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages managed by the plugin. The malicious scripts are stored persistently and execute whenever any user accesses the compromised pages. The vulnerability is limited to multi-site WordPress installations where the unfiltered_html capability is disabled, which restricts the ability of users to post unfiltered HTML content, thus making the plugin's sanitization critical. The CVSS v3.1 score of 4.4 reflects a medium severity rating, with an attack vector of network, high attack complexity, requiring privileges, no user interaction, and a scope change due to the potential impact on other users' sessions. While no public exploits are known, the vulnerability could be leveraged to steal session tokens, perform actions on behalf of other users, or deface websites, impacting confidentiality and integrity. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention from administrators to implement compensating controls or monitor for suspicious activity.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a risk primarily to those operating WordPress multi-site environments using the Multi-column Tag Map plugin. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized script execution in the context of other users, potentially compromising sensitive information such as session cookies or administrative credentials. This can result in unauthorized access, privilege escalation, or defacement of websites, undermining trust and potentially causing reputational damage. Given the medium severity and requirement for administrator privileges, the threat is more relevant to insider threats or compromised admin accounts. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is moderate, with no direct availability impact. Organizations in sectors with high reliance on WordPress multi-site setups, such as media, education, and government, may face increased risk. Additionally, regulatory frameworks like GDPR impose strict data protection requirements, so exploitation leading to data breaches could result in legal and financial penalties.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should first verify if they are running multi-site WordPress installations with the Multi-column Tag Map plugin version 17.0.39 or earlier. Immediate steps include restricting administrator access to trusted personnel only and auditing admin accounts for suspicious activity. Since no official patches are available, organizations should consider disabling the plugin temporarily or removing it if not critical. Implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts targeting the plugin's admin settings can provide interim protection. Monitoring logs for unusual admin setting changes or unexpected script content is essential. Additionally, enabling Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help mitigate the impact of injected scripts by restricting script execution sources. Regular backups and incident response plans should be updated to handle potential exploitation. Finally, organizations should stay alert for vendor updates or patches and apply them promptly once released.