CVE-2025-5125 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WordPress plugin 'Custom Post Carousels with Owl' prior to version 1.4.12. This plugin utilizes the featherlight JavaScript library to create lightbox effects, leveraging the 'data-featherlight' HTML attribute to trigger these effects. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input assigned to the 'data-featherlight' attribute before rendering it on web pages. This lack of input sanitization allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into the attribute, which can then be executed in the context of users visiting the affected website. As a result, an attacker could perform actions such as stealing session cookies, performing actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating improper neutralization of input during web page generation. Notably, there are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no official patch or update has been released yet. The affected versions are all versions before 1.4.12, with the data indicating version '0' affected, which likely means all versions prior to the fixed release. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised or maliciously crafted page that includes the vulnerable plugin. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of carousel plugins for content display, this vulnerability could be leveraged to target websites that use this plugin, especially those that allow user-generated content or comments that might be rendered unsanitized. The absence of a CVSS score suggests the need for an independent severity assessment based on the technical details provided.

For European organizations, the impact of this XSS vulnerability can be significant, particularly for those relying on WordPress websites for customer interaction, e-commerce, or internal portals. Exploitation could lead to theft of user credentials or session tokens, enabling attackers to impersonate users or administrators, potentially leading to further compromise of sensitive data or website defacement. This could damage organizational reputation, result in regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations if personal data is exposed), and cause operational disruptions. Additionally, attackers could use the vulnerability as a foothold to distribute malware or conduct phishing campaigns targeting European users. The impact is heightened for organizations in sectors with high web presence such as retail, finance, media, and government services. Since the vulnerability does not require authentication, any visitor to a compromised site could be affected, increasing the attack surface. However, the lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, though the potential for exploitation remains high once public details are widely disseminated.

1. Immediate mitigation involves updating the 'Custom Post Carousels with Owl' plugin to version 1.4.12 or later once it becomes available, as this will include proper sanitization of the 'data-featherlight' attribute. 2. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider disabling or removing the plugin from their WordPress installations to eliminate the attack vector. 3. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious payloads targeting the 'data-featherlight' attribute or related HTTP requests. 4. Conduct thorough input validation and sanitization on any user-generated content that could be rendered within carousel elements, even beyond the plugin scope. 5. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. 6. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual requests or error patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation. 7. Educate website administrators and developers about secure coding practices and the risks of unsanitized input in dynamic attributes. 8. Regularly audit WordPress plugins and themes for vulnerabilities and maintain an up-to-date inventory to quickly respond to emerging threats.