CVE-2025-53566 is a stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the WordPress plugin 'WP Visitor Statistics (Real Time Traffic)' developed by osama.esh. The vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing malicious scripts to be injected and stored within the plugin's data. When an administrator or user with appropriate privileges views the affected page, the malicious script executes in their browser context. This can lead to unauthorized actions such as session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects all versions up to 7.8, with no specific version exclusions mentioned. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L) shows that the attack can be performed remotely over the network, requires low attack complexity, but does require privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is low to medium. No patches or known exploits in the wild are reported yet. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in administrative plugins like this, as they can be leveraged to escalate privileges or compromise site integrity.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the WP Visitor Statistics plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized script execution within the administrative context. This can lead to theft of authentication tokens, unauthorized changes to site content, or deployment of further malware. Given the plugin's role in real-time traffic monitoring, attackers could manipulate analytics data or use the plugin as a foothold for broader network compromise. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, which rely heavily on WordPress for public-facing or internal portals, may face reputational damage, data breaches, or service disruptions. The requirement for low privileges and user interaction means that insider threats or compromised user accounts could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, the changed scope indicates potential impact beyond the plugin itself, possibly affecting other site components or user sessions.

1. Immediate review and removal of the WP Visitor Statistics (Real Time Traffic) plugin if not essential, or replacement with a more secure alternative. 2. Monitor for plugin updates or security patches from the vendor and apply them promptly once available. 3. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the WordPress environment, especially for plugins handling web page generation. 4. Restrict plugin access to only trusted administrators and enforce the principle of least privilege. 5. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on stored XSS vulnerabilities. 7. Educate administrators and users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or interacting with untrusted content within the WordPress admin interface. 8. Utilize Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block XSS payloads targeting WordPress plugins.