CVE-2025-2579 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79 affecting the Lottie Player plugin for WordPress, developed by bplugins. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.1.8 due to insufficient sanitization of user input during file uploads and inadequate output escaping when rendering uploaded content. Specifically, authenticated users with Author-level privileges or higher can upload files containing malicious scripts. These scripts are then stored on the server and executed in the context of any user who accesses the affected pages containing the uploaded files. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to properly neutralize potentially dangerous input embedded within uploaded files, allowing arbitrary JavaScript code injection. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement, or further exploitation of the affected WordPress site. Although exploitation requires authenticated access at the Author level or above, which limits the attack surface, the stored nature of the XSS means that any user visiting the compromised page may be affected. No public exploits have been reported yet, and no official patches are currently available. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2025 and published in April 2025, with Wordfence as the assigner. The plugin is widely used in WordPress environments to render Lottie animations, which are popular for enhancing website interactivity and visual appeal.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the Lottie Player plugin installed. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized script execution within the context of the website, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing sensitive data, or enabling further attacks such as privilege escalation or malware distribution. Organizations in sectors with high web presence—such as e-commerce, media, education, and government—may face reputational damage and regulatory scrutiny under GDPR if user data is compromised. The requirement for Author-level access reduces the risk from external anonymous attackers but raises concerns about insider threats or compromised accounts. Additionally, the stored XSS nature means that even non-authenticated visitors can be affected once the malicious payload is injected, broadening the scope of impact. The lack of a patch increases exposure time, and the absence of known exploits in the wild suggests potential for attackers to develop weaponized code. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe and the popularity of animation plugins, this vulnerability could affect a large number of websites, especially those that do not enforce strict user role management or monitoring.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting Author-level privileges to trusted users only and auditing existing accounts for suspicious activity. 2. Disable or remove the Lottie Player plugin until a security patch is released. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting file upload endpoints associated with the plugin. 4. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected pages. 5. Conduct regular scanning of uploaded files for embedded scripts or suspicious content using specialized security tools. 6. Monitor logs for unusual file upload activity or access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Educate site administrators and content creators about the risks of uploading untrusted files and the importance of role-based access control. 8. Once a patch is available, prioritize timely updates of the plugin across all affected WordPress instances. 9. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users with elevated privileges to reduce the risk of account compromise.