CVE-2025-4219 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the DPEPress plugin for WordPress, developed by darkyudex. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 0.3 of the plugin. The root cause is insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of user-supplied attributes within the plugin's 'dpe' shortcode functionality. Specifically, authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages via the shortcode attributes. Because the malicious script is stored persistently in the WordPress database, it executes every time any user accesses the compromised page, leading to a stored XSS scenario. The vulnerability does not require user interaction to trigger once the malicious content is loaded, and it has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4, categorized as medium severity. The attack vector is network-based (remote), with low attack complexity and privileges required at the contributor level. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact affects confidentiality and integrity but not availability, as the injected scripts can steal session tokens, perform actions on behalf of users, or manipulate page content. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability was reserved on May 2, 2025, and published on May 21, 2025.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the DPEPress plugin installed, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Attackers with contributor-level access—often granted to content creators or editors—can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors, including administrators and other privileged users. This can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions performed under the victim's credentials, data theft, and defacement. Since WordPress is widely used across Europe for corporate, governmental, and personal websites, exploitation could compromise sensitive information and damage organizational reputation. The stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload persists and can affect multiple users over time. Additionally, the scope change indicates potential for broader impact beyond the plugin itself, possibly affecting other integrated components or user data. Although no active exploitation is reported yet, the medium severity and ease of exploitation by authenticated users make it a credible threat, especially in environments with multiple contributors. The lack of a patch increases the urgency for mitigation.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the DPEPress plugin, particularly versions up to 0.3. Since no official patch is available yet, organizations should consider the following specific actions: 1) Restrict contributor-level access strictly to trusted users and review user roles and permissions to minimize the number of users who can inject content. 2) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that detect and block suspicious shortcode attribute patterns or script tags in user inputs related to the 'dpe' shortcode. 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and scripts from untrusted sources, mitigating the impact of injected scripts. 4) Monitor logs for unusual activity or content changes in pages using the 'dpe' shortcode. 5) Temporarily disable or remove the DPEPress plugin if feasible until a patch is released. 6) Educate content contributors about safe content practices and the risks of injecting untrusted code. 7) Regularly check for updates from the vendor and apply patches promptly once available. These targeted mitigations go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, detection, and containment specific to this plugin and vulnerability.