CVE-2025-49911 is a reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the wpinstinct WooCommerce Vehicle Parts Finder plugin, specifically affecting versions up to and including 3.7. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during the generation of web pages, which allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into the output. When a victim interacts with a specially crafted URL containing malicious payloads, the injected script executes in the context of the victim’s browser. This can lead to theft of session cookies, defacement, redirection to malicious websites, or execution of arbitrary actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability requires no authentication (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as clicking a malicious link. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, reflecting high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and a scope change (S:C) indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the vulnerable component. The impact includes partial loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites using this plugin, particularly e-commerce sites in the automotive parts sector. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in October 2025, but no official patches or mitigations have been linked yet. Organizations should monitor vendor communications for updates and consider interim protective measures.

For European organizations, the impact of this reflected XSS vulnerability can be significant, especially for those operating e-commerce platforms selling automotive parts using WooCommerce with the vulnerable plugin. Exploitation can lead to session hijacking, enabling attackers to impersonate legitimate users, potentially resulting in unauthorized transactions or data theft. The integrity of the website can be compromised by injecting malicious content, damaging brand reputation and customer trust. Availability may also be affected if attackers use the vulnerability to perform actions that disrupt normal operations or redirect users to phishing or malware sites. Given the widespread use of WooCommerce in Europe and the importance of the automotive sector, this vulnerability could affect a large number of businesses, leading to financial losses and regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if customer data is exposed. The requirement for user interaction means phishing campaigns could be used to exploit this vulnerability, increasing the risk of targeted attacks against European customers and employees.

1. Monitor wpinstinct and WooCommerce official channels for the release of a security patch addressing CVE-2025-49911 and apply it immediately upon availability. 2. Until a patch is released, implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns that may contain XSS payloads targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoints. 3. Employ strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers, mitigating the impact of reflected XSS. 4. Conduct a thorough code review and apply manual input validation and output encoding for any user-supplied data processed by the Vehicle Parts Finder plugin, if feasible. 5. Educate users and staff about the risks of clicking on unsolicited links, especially those appearing in emails or messages, to reduce the likelihood of successful phishing attacks exploiting this vulnerability. 6. Regularly audit and monitor web server logs for unusual request patterns or spikes in error rates that may indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Consider isolating or disabling the vulnerable plugin if it is not critical to business operations until a secure version is available.