CVE-2025-14130 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability identified in the Post Like Dislike plugin for WordPress, developed by cuvixsystem. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0. The root cause is insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of the $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] variable, which is used during web page generation. Because this variable reflects the current script's filename, an attacker can craft a malicious URL containing script code injected into this variable. When a user clicks such a link, the malicious script is executed in their browser context, potentially allowing theft of session cookies, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability does not require any authentication, making it accessible to unauthenticated attackers, but it does require user interaction (clicking a malicious link). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.1, reflecting a medium severity level with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and impacts on confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No public exploits or patches are currently available, indicating a window of exposure. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input during web page generation leading to XSS. This type of vulnerability is common in web applications and plugins that fail to properly sanitize user-controllable inputs before rendering them in HTML contexts.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for those relying on WordPress websites with the Post Like Dislike plugin installed. Successful exploitation can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, theft of sensitive information, and potential defacement or redirection attacks. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, and cause loss of user trust. Since the vulnerability is exploitable without authentication but requires user interaction, phishing campaigns or social engineering could be used to target employees or customers. Public-facing websites, especially those with high user engagement, are at greater risk. The lack of current patches or known exploits means organizations must proactively mitigate risk. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it still poses a tangible threat that should be addressed promptly to avoid exploitation.

1. Monitor official sources and the plugin vendor for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them immediately upon release. 2. In the absence of patches, implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules specifically designed to detect and block reflected XSS attacks targeting the $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] parameter or suspicious URL patterns. 3. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 4. Conduct an audit of all WordPress plugins and remove or replace those that are unmaintained or vulnerable. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on suspicious links, emphasizing phishing awareness. 6. If feasible, modify the plugin code to sanitize and escape the $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] variable properly, using WordPress core functions like esc_url() or esc_html() as a temporary fix. 7. Regularly scan websites with automated tools to detect XSS vulnerabilities and suspicious activities. 8. Limit user privileges on WordPress sites to minimize the impact of compromised accounts. 9. Maintain regular backups of website data to enable quick recovery in case of compromise.