CVE-2025-14552 is a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the MediaPress plugin for WordPress, maintained by buddydev. The flaw exists in all versions up to and including 1.6.1 and arises from improper neutralization of user-supplied input within the plugin's mpp-uploader shortcode. Specifically, the plugin fails to adequately sanitize and escape attributes provided by authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher. This deficiency allows such users to inject arbitrary JavaScript code that is stored persistently and executed in the context of any user who views the affected page. The vulnerability leverages CWE-79, a common web application security weakness related to cross-site scripting. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting medium severity, with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C). The impact includes limited confidentiality and integrity loss, such as session hijacking, defacement, or unauthorized actions performed via the victim’s browser. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a risk to WordPress sites using MediaPress that allow contributor-level users to add content. The vulnerability was published on January 6, 2026, and no official patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may require manual intervention or vendor updates. The flaw's exploitation does not require victim interaction beyond visiting the compromised page, increasing its risk profile once exploited.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized script execution within their WordPress-based web platforms, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing sensitive information, or enabling further attacks such as privilege escalation or phishing. Organizations that allow contributor-level access to external or less-trusted users are particularly vulnerable. The persistent nature of the XSS means that once injected, the malicious script can affect all visitors to the compromised page, amplifying the impact. This could damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and disrupt web services. Given the widespread use of WordPress and plugins like MediaPress for media sharing and community engagement, sectors such as media, education, and public services in Europe could face significant risks. Additionally, the scope change in the CVSS vector implies that the vulnerability could affect resources beyond the initially compromised component, increasing potential damage. The absence of known exploits suggests a window for proactive mitigation, but also a risk of future exploitation as attackers develop weaponized payloads.

1. Immediately restrict contributor-level permissions to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious input. 2. Monitor and audit content submitted via the mpp-uploader shortcode for suspicious scripts or unusual input patterns. 3. Implement web application firewalls (WAF) with rules targeting stored XSS payloads specific to MediaPress shortcode attributes. 4. Apply strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the plugin, ideally by updating to a patched version once released. 5. If patches are unavailable, consider temporarily disabling or removing the MediaPress plugin or the vulnerable shortcode functionality. 6. Educate content contributors about secure content submission practices and the risks of injecting scripts. 7. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected web pages. 8. Regularly scan WordPress installations with security plugins capable of detecting XSS vulnerabilities and malicious code injections. 9. Maintain up-to-date backups to enable rapid restoration if exploitation occurs. 10. Engage with the plugin vendor for timely updates and security advisories.