CVE-2025-2543 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Advanced Accordion Gutenberg Block plugin for WordPress, developed by spiderdevs. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 5.0.1 due to improper sanitization and escaping of SVG file uploads. Specifically, authenticated users with Author-level privileges or higher can upload malicious SVG files containing embedded JavaScript code. When any user accesses a page containing the compromised SVG, the injected script executes in the context of that user's browser. This vulnerability stems from CWE-79, which involves improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts. The attack vector requires authentication at the Author level or above, which means the attacker must have some level of trusted access to the WordPress backend. However, once exploited, the malicious script can execute with the privileges of any user viewing the affected page, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or further compromise of the website. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and there are no known exploits in the wild as of the publication date (April 24, 2025). The vulnerability is classified as medium severity by the source, but no CVSS score is assigned. The plugin is widely used in WordPress sites that utilize the Gutenberg editor and require accordion-style content blocks, making the attack surface significant in environments where this plugin is installed and enabled.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to websites running WordPress with the Advanced Accordion Gutenberg Block plugin installed. The impact includes potential compromise of website integrity and confidentiality through session hijacking or theft of sensitive user data via malicious scripts. This can lead to reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is exposed. Attackers with Author-level access could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges or implant persistent malicious code, affecting the availability and integrity of web content. Organizations in sectors with high reliance on web presence, such as e-commerce, media, and public services, could face operational disruptions. Additionally, the stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload persists on the server, increasing the risk of repeated exploitation. Given that exploitation requires authenticated access, the threat is somewhat mitigated by strong access controls, but insider threats or compromised credentials remain a concern. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests limited active targeting currently, but the widespread use of WordPress in Europe means the vulnerability could be attractive to attackers once exploit code becomes available.

1. Immediately audit and restrict Author-level and higher privileges to trusted users only, enforcing the principle of least privilege. 2. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users with backend access to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Disable SVG file uploads if not strictly necessary, or restrict SVG uploads to trusted users and scan SVG files for malicious content using specialized security tools. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious SVG payloads or script injections. 5. Monitor website content and logs for unusual script insertions or changes, especially in pages using the Advanced Accordion Gutenberg Block. 6. Keep WordPress core and all plugins updated; monitor spiderdevs’ communications for patches addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 7. Conduct regular security training for content authors and administrators to recognize phishing or social engineering attempts that could lead to credential compromise. 8. Consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers, mitigating the impact of XSS attacks. 9. Perform periodic security assessments and penetration testing focusing on plugin vulnerabilities and user privilege misuse.