CVE-2025-47522 is a Stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the AWEOS WP Lock plugin developed by AWEOS GmbH. 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 rendering it on web pages, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that are stored persistently within the application. When other users or administrators access the affected pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions, or the spread of malware. The vulnerability affects all versions of AWEOS WP Lock up to and including version 1.4.8. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.9 (medium severity), with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring high privileges (PR:H), user interaction (UI:R), scope changed (S:C), and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability all rated low (C:L/I:L/A:L). No known public exploits have been reported so far, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on May 7, 2025, and has been enriched by CISA, indicating recognition by US cybersecurity authorities. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in WordPress plugins because they can affect site administrators and users, potentially compromising entire websites and their visitors. Given that AWEOS WP Lock is a WordPress security plugin designed to protect sites, the irony is that the plugin itself introduces a security risk. Attackers with high privileges (e.g., authenticated users with elevated rights) can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts that persist and execute in the context of other users, including administrators.

For European organizations using WordPress websites protected by AWEOS WP Lock, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Stored XSS can lead to unauthorized access to administrative accounts, data leakage, defacement, or further malware distribution. The impact is heightened for organizations handling sensitive or personal data subject to GDPR, as exploitation could result in data breaches and regulatory penalties. Additionally, compromised websites can damage brand reputation and customer trust. Since exploitation requires high privileges and user interaction, the risk is somewhat mitigated but still relevant for organizations with multiple users or contributors to their WordPress sites. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges or move laterally within the web application environment. The scope change in the CVSS vector suggests that exploitation could affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially impacting the entire website or connected systems. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe across various sectors including government, education, and commerce, the vulnerability could have broad implications if not addressed promptly.

European organizations should take the following specific steps to mitigate this vulnerability: 1) Immediately audit WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of AWEOS WP Lock. 2) Restrict plugin installation and updates to trusted administrators only, minimizing the number of users with high privileges who could exploit this vulnerability. 3) Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling the AWEOS WP Lock plugin to eliminate the attack surface. 4) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns that could indicate XSS attempts targeting this plugin. 5) Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding on all user-generated content within WordPress, especially in areas managed by the plugin. 6) Monitor logs for unusual activities or script injections related to the plugin. 7) Educate site administrators and users about the risks of XSS and the importance of cautious interaction with unexpected content. 8) Once a patch is available, prioritize its deployment and verify the fix through testing. 9) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to reduce the impact of potential XSS by restricting script execution sources. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on the plugin-specific context and operational controls relevant to European organizations.