CVE-2025-14145 identifies a stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability in the WordPress plugin 'Niche Hero | Beautifully-designed blocks in seconds' developed by djrowling. The vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically in the handling of the 'spacing' parameter within the nh_row shortcode. All versions up to and including 1.0.5 are affected. Authenticated attackers with Contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages or posts via the vulnerable parameter. Because the malicious script is stored persistently, it executes every time an end user accesses the infected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require authentication at Contributor level or above, which limits the attack surface but still poses a significant risk in environments with multiple content contributors. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and partial confidentiality and integrity impact. No patches or official fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, a common web application security weakness related to improper input sanitization and output encoding.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to websites running WordPress with the vulnerable Niche Hero plugin installed. Attackers with Contributor-level access can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors, potentially leading to session hijacking, unauthorized actions, data theft, or defacement. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, and cause operational disruptions. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts are the main vectors. Organizations with collaborative content management workflows or external contributors are particularly at risk. The stored XSS nature means that once exploited, the malicious payload persists and affects all users accessing the infected pages, increasing the scope of impact. Additionally, compromised sites could be used as a launchpad for further attacks against visitors or internal users. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests a window of opportunity for proactive mitigation before widespread abuse occurs.

1. Immediately audit WordPress installations for the presence of the Niche Hero plugin and verify the version in use. 2. Restrict Contributor-level access to trusted users only, and review user roles and permissions regularly to minimize risk. 3. Implement strict input validation and output escaping for all shortcode parameters, especially 'spacing', either by applying custom filters or awaiting an official patch from the vendor. 4. Monitor website content for unexpected script injections or anomalies indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting stored XSS patterns to provide an additional layer of defense. 6. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted code or content. 7. Backup website data regularly to enable quick restoration if compromise occurs. 8. Follow up with the plugin vendor for official patches or updates and apply them promptly once available. 9. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the plugin if mitigation is not feasible until a patch is released.