CVE-2025-15283 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, found in the Name Directory plugin for WordPress developed by jeroenpeters1986. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.30.3. The root cause is insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied input in the 'name_directory_name' and 'name_directory_description' parameters. Because these inputs are stored and later rendered in web pages without proper neutralization, an attacker can inject arbitrary JavaScript code that executes in the context of any user who accesses the affected page. The attack requires no authentication or user interaction, making it highly accessible to remote attackers. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.2 reflects a network attack vector with low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and a scope change, impacting confidentiality and integrity but not availability. The vulnerability allows attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or deliver malware. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be considered a significant risk. The plugin’s popularity in WordPress ecosystems means many websites could be vulnerable, especially those that do not implement additional input validation or output encoding. Detection and mitigation require careful inspection of input handling and prompt updates once fixes are released.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites using the Name Directory plugin, particularly those handling sensitive user data or providing critical services. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, data theft, defacement, or distribution of malicious payloads, undermining user trust and potentially violating data protection regulations such as GDPR. The ability for unauthenticated attackers to inject scripts without user interaction increases the likelihood of automated exploitation attempts. This can result in reputational damage, financial loss, and legal consequences for organizations failing to protect their web assets. Public-facing websites, e-commerce platforms, and portals with high traffic are especially vulnerable. Additionally, the scope change indicated by the CVSS score suggests that the vulnerability could affect components beyond the immediate plugin, potentially impacting other integrated systems. European organizations with limited patch management capabilities or those relying heavily on third-party plugins face increased exposure. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the risk of future exploitation remains high.

1. Monitor official channels for the release of a security patch for the Name Directory plugin and apply updates immediately upon availability. 2. Until a patch is released, implement manual input validation and output encoding for the 'name_directory_name' and 'name_directory_description' parameters at the web application firewall (WAF) or server level to block or sanitize malicious payloads. 3. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected web pages. 4. Conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing focused on input handling in the plugin and related components. 5. Educate web administrators and developers about the risks of stored XSS and the importance of secure coding practices. 6. Use security plugins or tools that can detect and block XSS attempts in WordPress environments. 7. Regularly audit and monitor web server logs for unusual or suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable parameters. 8. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the Name Directory plugin if immediate patching is not feasible. 9. Implement strict user role and permission management to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 10. Maintain up-to-date backups to enable rapid recovery if compromise occurs.