CVE-2025-53240 is a reflected Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the adamlabs WordPress Photo Gallery plugin, affecting versions up to and including 1.1.0. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during the generation of web pages, which allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code that is reflected back to users without proper sanitization. When a victim clicks on a specially crafted URL containing malicious payloads, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed with the victim's privileges. The vulnerability does not require any authentication and has a low attack complexity, but it does require user interaction (clicking a malicious link). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, indicating a medium severity level, with the vector string AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. This means the attack can be launched remotely over the network, with no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary, and the scope is changed due to the reflected nature of the attack. The impact primarily affects confidentiality and integrity, with no direct availability impact. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability affects websites using this plugin, which is commonly deployed on WordPress installations for photo gallery and portfolio display purposes. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe, this vulnerability poses a risk to organizations that rely on this plugin for their web presence. The lack of a patch link indicates that a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for interim mitigations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information such as session cookies or personal data, enabling attackers to impersonate users or escalate privileges. The reflected XSS can also facilitate phishing attacks by injecting deceptive content into trusted websites, undermining user trust and potentially leading to credential theft or malware distribution. Organizations with public-facing WordPress sites using the affected Photo Gallery plugin are at particular risk, especially those in sectors like e-commerce, media, and public services where user interaction is frequent. The compromise of user sessions or integrity of displayed content can damage reputation, cause regulatory compliance issues under GDPR due to data breaches, and result in financial losses. Since exploitation requires user interaction, the impact depends on the effectiveness of user awareness and email/web filtering controls. However, the medium severity score and the wide deployment of WordPress in Europe make this a notable threat that should be addressed promptly.

1. Monitor the official plugin repository and vendor announcements closely for the release of a security patch and apply it immediately upon availability. 2. Until a patch is released, consider disabling or removing the affected Photo Gallery plugin if feasible, especially on high-risk or sensitive websites. 3. Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 4. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block reflected XSS payloads targeting the plugin’s URL parameters. 5. Sanitize and validate all user inputs on the server side, particularly those reflected in URLs or page content, to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on suspicious links and encourage cautious behavior to reduce successful exploitation via social engineering. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities, including XSS. 8. Review and harden WordPress security configurations, including limiting plugin usage to trusted and actively maintained components.