CVE-2025-48315 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the 'stanton119 WordPress HTML' plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing malicious actors to inject and store arbitrary JavaScript code within the plugin's output. When other users or administrators view the affected pages, the malicious script executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects versions up to 0.51 of the plugin, with no specific version range provided. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting a network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R), with a scope change (S:C) and low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:L/I:L/A:L). No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, and no patches have been linked at the time of publication. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because the malicious payload persists on the server and can affect multiple users over time. Given the plugin's integration with WordPress, a widely used content management system, exploitation could impact websites that rely on this plugin for HTML content management or rendering. Attackers with low privileges but requiring user interaction can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their access or compromise user sessions.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the stanton119 HTML plugin installed. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, theft of sensitive data, defacement of websites, or distribution of malware through compromised sites. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations if personal data is exposed), and cause operational disruptions. Given the medium severity and the requirement for some privileges and user interaction, the risk is moderate but should not be underestimated. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, education, and media that use WordPress extensively are particularly at risk. Additionally, stored XSS can be a stepping stone for more complex attacks, including phishing campaigns targeting site users or administrators.

Organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the stanton119 WordPress HTML plugin, especially versions up to 0.51. If found, they should consider disabling or removing the plugin until a patch is available. In the absence of an official patch, applying web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns related to script tags or event handlers can reduce exploitation risk. Administrators should enforce the principle of least privilege to limit user roles that can input HTML content. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help mitigate the impact of XSS by restricting the execution of unauthorized scripts. Regular security training for users to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious site behavior is also recommended. Monitoring logs for unusual activity related to content submissions or user interactions can provide early detection of exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should subscribe to vendor advisories for updates and patches addressing this vulnerability.