CVE-2025-49407 is a high-severity reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the favethemes Houzez WordPress theme, affecting versions up to and including 4.1.1. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. Reflected XSS occurs when malicious scripts injected via crafted URLs or input fields are immediately reflected back in the HTTP response without proper sanitization or encoding, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the victim's browser session. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.1 reflects a high severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. The impact affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a low level individually but collectively significant. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating a window of exposure. The vulnerability is particularly critical for websites using the Houzez theme, which is popular in real estate and property listing sectors, where user trust and data integrity are paramount. Attackers could craft malicious links that, when clicked by users or administrators, execute scripts that compromise user sessions or manipulate displayed content.

For European organizations, especially those in real estate, property management, or related sectors using the Houzez theme, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, leakage of sensitive client information, and reputational damage due to defacement or phishing attacks. Given the theme's use in customer-facing websites, attackers could target European customers, potentially violating GDPR regulations if personal data is compromised, leading to legal and financial penalties. The reflected XSS nature means phishing campaigns could be more convincing, increasing the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks. Additionally, compromised administrative accounts could lead to further exploitation of the underlying WordPress installation or connected systems.

Organizations should immediately audit their websites using the Houzez theme for signs of reflected XSS vulnerabilities. Until an official patch is released, implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically targeting suspicious input patterns and known XSS attack vectors to block malicious requests. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts. Sanitize and encode all user inputs and outputs rigorously, especially those reflected in URLs or page content. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on untrusted links. Monitor web server logs for unusual request patterns indicative of attempted exploitation. Plan for prompt application of vendor patches once available and consider temporary theme replacement or disabling vulnerable features if feasible. Regularly update all WordPress components and plugins to minimize attack surface.