CVE-2025-50041 is a stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the WP Engine Gutenberg Blocks – ACF Blocks Suite plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing malicious actors to inject and persist arbitrary scripts within content managed by the affected plugin versions up to 2.6.11. Specifically, the vulnerability enables an attacker with at least limited privileges (PR:L) and requiring user interaction (UI:R) to craft payloads that are stored and later executed in the context of users visiting the affected web pages. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vector metrics indicate that the attack can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires some privileges and user interaction. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact metrics show low confidentiality (C:L), integrity (I:L), and availability (A:L) impacts, consistent with typical stored XSS risks. Stored XSS vulnerabilities can lead to session hijacking, defacement, phishing, or distribution of malware by executing malicious scripts in the browsers of users who visit compromised pages. Since the vulnerability affects a popular WordPress plugin used to create and manage Gutenberg blocks, it potentially impacts a wide range of websites using this plugin for content management and presentation. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes are linked in the provided data, indicating that mitigation efforts should focus on monitoring for updates and implementing compensating controls in the interim.

For European organizations, the impact of this stored XSS vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress sites that utilize the Gutenberg Blocks – ACF Blocks Suite plugin. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized script execution in the browsers of site visitors, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing sensitive information, or enabling phishing attacks. This is particularly critical for organizations handling personal data under GDPR, as such breaches could lead to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, e-commerce platforms, government portals, and financial services using the affected plugin may face increased risks of fraud or service disruption. The medium severity score reflects that while the vulnerability does not directly allow full system compromise, the chained effects of XSS attacks can be severe, especially if combined with social engineering or other vulnerabilities. The requirement for some privileges and user interaction limits the ease of exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as many WordPress sites have multiple user roles and frequent content updates. The scope change indicates that the impact could extend beyond the plugin itself, affecting other components or user sessions. Overall, European organizations with public-facing WordPress sites using this plugin should consider this vulnerability a moderate threat that warrants timely attention.

Monitor WP Engine and ACF Blocks Suite vendor channels for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-50041 and apply them promptly once available. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-generated content within the Gutenberg blocks to prevent injection of malicious scripts. Restrict user privileges to the minimum necessary, especially limiting content editing capabilities to trusted users to reduce the risk of malicious payload insertion. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with rules specifically tuned to detect and block common XSS attack patterns targeting WordPress plugins and Gutenberg blocks. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on content management workflows to identify and remediate injection points. Educate content editors and administrators about the risks of stored XSS and safe content handling practices, including avoiding insertion of untrusted HTML or scripts. Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers on affected websites to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS exploitation. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative and content management accounts to reduce the risk of account compromise that could facilitate exploitation.