CVE-2025-49051 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the biscia7 Hide Text Shortcode plugin. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation, allowing malicious scripts to be stored and subsequently executed in the context of users visiting affected web pages. The vulnerability impacts versions of the Hide Text Shortcode plugin up to and including 1.1, though the exact affected versions are not fully enumerated. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L) reveals that the attack can be executed remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), requires privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R), and has a scope change (S:C) meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent (C:L/I:L/A:L). Stored XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that is permanently stored on the target server (e.g., in a database) and executed in the browsers of users who access the affected content. This can lead to session hijacking, defacement, redirection to malicious sites, or execution of arbitrary actions on behalf of the victim user. Since the vulnerability requires some level of authenticated access (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R), exploitation is somewhat constrained but still poses a significant risk, especially in environments with multiple users or administrative roles. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits are reported in the wild, indicating that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and may not yet be actively exploited. However, the presence of scope change means the impact can extend beyond the immediate component, potentially affecting other parts of the web application or user data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk, particularly for those using the biscia7 Hide Text Shortcode plugin in their web environments. Stored XSS can lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, data leakage, and manipulation of web content, which can undermine user trust and violate data protection regulations such as the GDPR. The scope change indicates that the vulnerability could affect multiple components or user roles, increasing the potential damage. Organizations operating customer-facing websites or internal portals that rely on this plugin are at risk of targeted attacks that could compromise sensitive information or disrupt services. Given the requirement for some privilege and user interaction, insider threats or social engineering could facilitate exploitation. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, while limited, is sufficient to warrant attention, especially in sectors handling personal data, financial transactions, or critical infrastructure. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruptions.

European organizations should take immediate steps to mitigate this vulnerability beyond generic advice: 1) Inventory and identify all instances of the biscia7 Hide Text Shortcode plugin in their web applications. 2) Monitor vendor channels and security advisories for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-49051 and apply them promptly once available. 3) Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data related to the shortcode to prevent script injection. 4) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. 5) Limit user privileges and enforce the principle of least privilege to reduce the risk posed by authenticated users exploiting the vulnerability. 6) Conduct security awareness training to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering that could trigger user interaction requirements. 7) Use web application firewalls (WAFs) with updated rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting this vulnerability. 8) Regularly audit logs and monitor for unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. 9) Consider isolating or disabling the plugin temporarily if it is not critical to operations until a patch is available.