CVE-2025-14453 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the My Album Gallery plugin for WordPress, developed by ruhul080. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.0.4 and is due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically within the 'style_css' shortcode attribute. Authenticated users with Contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into the 'style_css' attribute. Because the plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape this input, the malicious script is stored persistently and executed in the context of any user who accesses the affected page. This can lead to a range of attacks including session hijacking, privilege escalation, defacement, or distribution of malware. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting a medium severity with the following vector: network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), scope changed (S:C), and impacts on confidentiality and integrity (C:L/I:L) but no impact on availability (A:N). The scope change indicates that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability is significant because Contributor-level users are common in WordPress environments, and stored XSS can have severe consequences if exploited. Organizations using this plugin should assess their exposure and implement mitigations promptly.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to websites using the My Album Gallery plugin on WordPress. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized script execution in users' browsers, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing sensitive data, or enabling further attacks such as phishing or malware distribution. Since Contributor-level access is sufficient for exploitation, insider threats or compromised accounts could be leveraged to inject malicious scripts. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is moderate, while availability is unaffected. Organizations in sectors with high web presence—such as media, e-commerce, education, and government—may face reputational damage and regulatory scrutiny under GDPR if user data is compromised. The vulnerability also increases the attack surface for supply chain attacks targeting WordPress ecosystems common in Europe. Although no active exploits are known, the ease of exploitation and persistence of stored XSS make timely remediation critical to prevent potential breaches.

1. Immediately update the My Album Gallery plugin to a patched version once available from the vendor or remove the plugin if it is not essential. 2. Restrict Contributor-level permissions to trusted users only and audit existing user roles to minimize risk exposure. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the 'style_css' shortcode attribute. 4. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected web pages. 5. Conduct regular security audits and scanning of WordPress plugins for vulnerabilities and suspicious code injections. 6. Educate site administrators and content contributors about the risks of XSS and safe content practices. 7. Monitor website logs and user activity for signs of exploitation attempts or unusual behavior. 8. Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect and prevent exploitation in real time. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, proactive detection, and layered defenses tailored to the specific vulnerability vector.