CVE-2025-48312 is a stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WPAvatar plugin of the 文派翻译 (WP Chinese Translation) project. This vulnerability arises due to 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 persistently stored and executed in the context of other users' browsers. The affected versions include all versions up to and including 1.9.3, with no specific earliest version identified. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5, indicating medium severity. The vector details (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L) show that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the stored XSS nature means that once exploited, malicious scripts can persist and affect multiple users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the affected web application. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation.

For European organizations using the WPAvatar plugin in their WordPress environments, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to web application security and user trust. Stored XSS can lead to the compromise of user accounts, leakage of sensitive information, and unauthorized actions performed on behalf of legitimate users. This is particularly concerning for organizations handling personal data under GDPR regulations, as exploitation could result in data breaches and subsequent regulatory penalties. Additionally, the ability to execute scripts in users' browsers can facilitate further attacks such as phishing or malware distribution, amplifying the threat landscape. The medium severity score reflects the potential for moderate disruption and data compromise, which can affect business continuity and reputation. Since the vulnerability requires low privileges but user interaction, attackers might leverage social engineering to maximize impact. European organizations with multilingual or Chinese language support websites using this plugin are especially at risk, as the plugin is tailored for Chinese translation services and may be more prevalent in organizations with ties to Chinese markets or communities.

Given the absence of an official patch, European organizations should implement immediate compensating controls. First, restrict plugin usage to trusted administrators and limit user roles that can input data rendered by WPAvatar. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting the plugin's input fields. Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding at the application level where possible, especially for any user-generated content processed by WPAvatar. Monitor logs for unusual activity or injection attempts related to the plugin. Educate users about the risks of interacting with suspicious content and implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution sources, mitigating the impact of any injected scripts. Organizations should also plan to update or replace the plugin once a vendor patch is released and consider isolating or disabling the plugin temporarily if feasible. Regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on XSS vulnerabilities can help identify residual risks.