CVE-2025-46471 is a DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WordPress plugin 'WP Custom Post Popup' developed by gnanavelshenll. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. Specifically, the plugin fails to adequately sanitize or encode user-supplied input before incorporating it into the Document Object Model (DOM) of a web page, allowing an attacker to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser. The affected versions include all versions up to 1.0.1, with no specific version exclusions noted. The vulnerability was published on April 24, 2025, and no patches or fixes have been released at the time of this analysis. There are no known exploits in the wild currently. The vulnerability is categorized as medium severity by the source, Patchstack, and has been enriched by CISA, indicating recognition by US cybersecurity authorities. The attack vector is client-side, relying on the victim visiting a crafted page or link that triggers the malicious script execution. This can lead to session hijacking, theft of cookies, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. Since it is DOM-based, the vulnerability does not require server-side code execution but exploits the way the plugin handles input in the browser environment. No authentication or user interaction beyond visiting a maliciously crafted page is required for exploitation, increasing the risk profile. The plugin is used within WordPress environments, which are widely deployed across various sectors, including European organizations. The absence of a patch and the medium severity rating suggest that while the vulnerability is exploitable, the impact is somewhat contained by the need for user interaction and the scope limited to the plugin's usage context.

For European organizations, this DOM-based XSS vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data. Exploitation could allow attackers to steal authentication tokens, perform actions on behalf of users, or deliver further malware payloads through the victim's browser. Organizations using the WP Custom Post Popup plugin on public-facing WordPress sites may experience reputational damage, data leakage, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The impact is particularly significant for sectors with high reliance on web presence, such as e-commerce, media, and government portals. However, the vulnerability does not directly compromise server-side systems or availability, limiting the scope of potential damage. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but also indicates that organizations should proactively address the issue before attackers develop weaponized exploits. Given the plugin’s niche functionality, the overall exposure depends on the prevalence of this plugin within European WordPress deployments. Nonetheless, targeted attacks against high-value organizations using this plugin remain a concern.

1. Immediate mitigation involves disabling or uninstalling the WP Custom Post Popup plugin until a security patch is released. 2. If removal is not feasible, implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that detect and block suspicious input patterns typical of XSS attacks targeting this plugin. 3. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of DOM-based XSS. 4. Conduct a thorough audit of WordPress plugins in use to identify and prioritize updates or replacements for vulnerable components. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking untrusted links, especially those that could trigger malicious scripts. 6. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual activity indicative of attempted exploitation. 7. Engage with the plugin vendor or community to track the release of patches and apply them promptly once available. 8. Consider implementing input validation and output encoding at the application level if custom development is possible, to mitigate injection risks.