CVE-2025-14835 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability categorized under CWE-80, found in the WP Photo Album Plus plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability exists because the plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied input in the ‘shortcode’ parameter, which is used to embed photo albums within WordPress pages or posts. This improper neutralization allows an attacker to craft a malicious URL containing a script payload in the shortcode parameter. When a victim clicks this URL, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 9.1.05.008. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.1 reflects a high severity, with vector metrics indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, and it impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent (C:L/I:L/A:L). No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be considered exploitable. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication, making any public-facing WordPress site using this plugin a potential target. The reflected nature means the attack is transient but can be highly effective in phishing or social engineering campaigns. The lack of a patch at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate mitigation steps by administrators.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to public-facing WordPress websites that use the WP Photo Album Plus plugin. Successful exploitation can lead to the compromise of user sessions, theft of sensitive data such as cookies or credentials, and the potential for attackers to perform actions on behalf of users. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and facilitate further attacks such as malware distribution or phishing. Sectors with high reliance on WordPress for content management, including media, e-commerce, education, and government, are particularly vulnerable. The reflected XSS can also be leveraged to bypass security controls like Content Security Policy (CSP) if not properly configured. Given the plugin’s widespread use, the attack surface is broad, and the ease of exploitation without authentication increases the likelihood of targeted or opportunistic attacks. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited to deface websites or disrupt availability, impacting business continuity and user trust.

1. Monitor the WP Photo Album Plus plugin repository and vendor announcements closely for an official security patch and apply it immediately upon release. 2. Until a patch is available, implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the ‘shortcode’ parameter, focusing on script tags and suspicious input patterns. 3. Employ strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied inputs, particularly the shortcode parameter, to neutralize script injection attempts. 4. Harden Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution sources and reduce the impact of potential XSS exploitation. 5. Educate users and administrators about phishing risks associated with clicking unknown or suspicious links. 6. Regularly audit WordPress plugins for updates and vulnerabilities, and consider alternative plugins with better security track records if timely patches are not forthcoming. 7. Conduct security testing, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing, focusing on XSS vectors in WordPress environments. 8. Limit plugin usage to trusted users and restrict administrative privileges to reduce the attack surface.