CVE-2025-49936 is a DOM-based Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WoodMart WordPress theme developed by xtemos, affecting versions prior to 8.3.2. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during the generation of web pages, which allows malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser. This type of XSS is client-side and occurs when the application processes untrusted input in the Document Object Model (DOM) without adequate sanitization or encoding. The vulnerability requires an attacker to have low privileges (PR:L) and necessitates user interaction (UI:R), such as clicking a crafted link or visiting a malicious page. The CVSS vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), and a scope change (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can impact resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact includes partial loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as attackers may steal session tokens, manipulate page content, or perform actions on behalf of the user. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the widespread use of WoodMart in e-commerce and business websites increases the risk of targeted attacks. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in October 2025, but no official patches or exploit code links are provided in the data. Organizations using WoodMart should verify their version and update to 8.3.2 or later once available. Additionally, they should implement security controls such as Content Security Policy (CSP) headers and input validation to mitigate exploitation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to websites using the WoodMart theme for WordPress, especially in e-commerce and business sectors where customer data and transactions are involved. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive user data, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, and potential defacement or manipulation of website content. This can damage brand reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to data breaches, and cause financial losses. The requirement for user interaction and low privilege reduces the likelihood of widespread automated exploitation but does not eliminate targeted phishing or social engineering attacks. Given the interconnected nature of European digital markets, compromised websites could serve as vectors for broader attacks or malware distribution. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it is not critical, but timely remediation is essential to prevent escalation.

1. Immediately verify the current version of WoodMart in use and plan to upgrade to version 8.3.2 or later as soon as the patch is available. 2. Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 3. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with rules tuned to detect and block DOM-based XSS payloads targeting WoodMart-specific parameters. 4. Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on client-side input handling and DOM manipulation within the website. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking untrusted links and encourage safe browsing habits to reduce successful user interaction exploitation. 6. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual activity patterns indicative of attempted XSS exploitation. 7. Consider implementing Subresource Integrity (SRI) for externally loaded scripts to prevent tampering. 8. Use security plugins that enhance input sanitization and output encoding in WordPress environments. These measures, combined with patching, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.