CVE-2025-52743 is a reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the bobbingwide oik-privacy-policy WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 1.4.9. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, which allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that is reflected back to users without adequate sanitization. This flaw enables attackers to craft malicious URLs or web requests that, when visited by a victim, execute arbitrary scripts in the victim’s browser context. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, indicating high severity, with an attack vector of network (remote), low attack complexity, no privileges required, but requiring user interaction (e.g., clicking a malicious link). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component, and the impact affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a low to moderate level. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the public disclosure increases the risk of exploitation by attackers targeting WordPress sites using this plugin. The vulnerability could be leveraged to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites. The plugin is commonly used to manage privacy policy pages on WordPress sites, which are often publicly accessible and may be visited by many users, increasing the attack surface. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for interim mitigations. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in October 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks, especially for those operating WordPress-based websites that use the oik-privacy-policy plugin. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of user data, session hijacking, and manipulation of website content, undermining user trust and potentially violating GDPR requirements related to data protection and breach notification. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and government, where privacy policies are prominently displayed and user interaction is frequent, are particularly vulnerable. The reflected XSS can be used as a vector for phishing attacks or to deliver further malware payloads, amplifying the impact. Additionally, reputational damage and potential regulatory penalties could result from successful exploitation. The vulnerability’s ease of exploitation and the public nature of privacy policy pages increase the likelihood of targeted attacks. Given the interconnected nature of European digital infrastructure, exploitation could also affect supply chains and third-party service providers relying on vulnerable WordPress sites.

Organizations should immediately inventory their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the oik-privacy-policy plugin and its version. Until an official patch is released, implement the following mitigations: 1) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block typical reflected XSS payloads targeting the plugin’s endpoints. 2) Apply strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and untrusted sources. 3) Sanitize and validate all user inputs at the application level, especially URL parameters or form inputs processed by the plugin. 4) Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking suspicious links related to the affected sites. 5) Monitor web server logs and security alerts for unusual request patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Once available, promptly update the plugin to a fixed version. 7) Consider temporarily disabling the plugin if it is not critical to operations until a patch is applied. 8) Conduct penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities to ensure no other similar issues exist in the environment.