CVE-2025-1560 identifies a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in the WOW Entrance Effects (WEE!) WordPress plugin developed by darkosxrc. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 0.1 due to insufficient sanitization and escaping of user input in the 'wee' shortcode attributes. Specifically, authenticated users with contributor-level permissions or higher can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages via this shortcode. Because the malicious script is stored persistently in the page content, it executes every time the page is accessed by any user, including administrators and visitors. This can lead to a range of attacks such as session hijacking, theft of cookies, defacement, or further exploitation of the site. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation) and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting medium severity. The attack vector is network-based with low complexity, requiring privileges but no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity with a scope change (potentially affecting other users). No patches or known exploits are currently available, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation. The plugin’s widespread use in WordPress sites, especially those allowing contributor-level access, increases the risk profile. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in plugins that accept user-generated content.

The impact of CVE-2025-1560 is significant for organizations using the WOW Entrance Effects (WEE!) plugin on WordPress sites that allow contributor-level or higher user roles. Exploitation enables attackers to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the context of any user viewing the compromised page. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information such as session tokens or cookies, enabling session hijacking and impersonation. Attackers may also perform actions on behalf of other users, potentially escalating privileges or defacing the website. The vulnerability compromises the confidentiality and integrity of the affected web application and its users. Although availability is not directly impacted, the reputational damage and potential data breaches can have severe consequences. Since WordPress powers a large portion of websites globally, and contributor roles are common in multi-author blogs and content management scenarios, the scope of affected systems is broad. Organizations relying on this plugin without proper access controls or monitoring are at increased risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for mitigation but also means attackers could develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability is publicized.

To mitigate CVE-2025-1560, organizations should immediately audit and restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious shortcode injection. Disable or remove the WOW Entrance Effects (WEE!) plugin if it is not essential, or replace it with a secure alternative that properly sanitizes user input. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious shortcode payloads or script injection attempts targeting the 'wee' shortcode. Monitor WordPress content and shortcode usage for unexpected or unauthorized changes, especially from contributors. Educate content authors about the risks of injecting untrusted content. Until an official patch is released, consider applying custom input validation or output encoding filters at the application level to sanitize shortcode attributes. Regularly update WordPress core and plugins to benefit from security improvements. Finally, maintain robust backup and incident response plans to quickly recover from any compromise resulting from exploitation.