CVE-2025-1407 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the AMO Team Showcase plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.1.4. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes in the plugin's amoteam_skills shortcode. Authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages generated by the plugin. Because the malicious script is stored, it executes every time any user accesses the compromised page, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond page access and has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and privileges required. The scope is changed (S:C) because the vulnerability affects resources beyond the attacker’s privileges, potentially impacting other users. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin’s presence in various sites. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input during web page generation, a common vector for XSS attacks. Mitigation requires patching the plugin once an update is available or applying strict input validation and output encoding on the affected shortcode parameters.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-1407 is the compromise of user confidentiality and integrity on affected WordPress sites. Exploitation allows attackers with contributor-level access to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users’ browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or distribution of malware. Although availability is not directly impacted, the reputational damage and potential data breaches can have severe consequences for organizations. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access, the attack surface is limited to users with at least contributor privileges, but many WordPress sites grant such roles to multiple users, increasing risk. The scope change indicates that the vulnerability can affect users beyond the attacker’s privileges, amplifying the threat. Organizations relying on the AMO Team Showcase plugin may face targeted attacks aiming to escalate privileges or compromise site visitors. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks, especially as exploit code may be developed and shared. Overall, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk to the confidentiality and integrity of affected systems and their users.

1. Immediate mitigation involves restricting contributor-level permissions to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious script injection. 2. Monitor and audit user-generated content submitted via the amoteam_skills shortcode for suspicious or unexpected input. 3. Apply strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied attributes related to the plugin, either by custom code or security plugins that enforce sanitization. 4. Disable or remove the AMO Team Showcase plugin if it is not essential to reduce the attack surface. 5. Stay alert for official patches or updates from the vendor and apply them promptly once released. 6. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting stored XSS payloads to block exploitation attempts. 7. Educate site administrators and contributors about the risks of XSS and the importance of secure content submission practices. 8. Regularly back up website data to enable recovery in case of compromise. 9. Conduct security assessments and penetration testing focusing on user input handling in WordPress plugins. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on role-based access control, content monitoring, and proactive security hygiene specific to this plugin’s vulnerability.