CVE-2025-57965 is a stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the WP CodeUs WP Proposals WordPress plugin up to version 2.3. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, allowing malicious scripts to be stored and later executed in the context of users visiting the affected web pages. Specifically, the flaw permits an attacker with at least low-level privileges (PR:L) and requiring user interaction (UI:R) to inject malicious JavaScript code that can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected web application. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), and scope change (S:C), indicating that exploitation can lead to impacts beyond the initially vulnerable component. The vulnerability can result in session hijacking, defacement, unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or distribution of malware. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, which suggests that organizations should proactively monitor for updates and consider mitigations. The vulnerability affects all versions up to 2.3 of WP Proposals, a plugin used to manage proposals within WordPress environments, often utilized by businesses for client interactions and project management.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for those relying on WordPress sites with the WP Proposals plugin for business-critical functions such as client proposals, contract management, or project collaboration. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive client data, manipulation of proposal content, or injection of malicious scripts that compromise user trust and lead to reputational damage. Given the scope change indicated by the CVSS vector, an attacker could leverage this vulnerability to affect other components or users beyond the initial plugin context, potentially leading to broader compromise of the web application or network. This is especially critical for organizations subject to stringent data protection regulations like GDPR, where data breaches involving personal or business information can result in heavy fines and legal consequences. Furthermore, the requirement for low privileges and user interaction means that internal users or collaborators could inadvertently facilitate exploitation, increasing the risk within organizations with multiple user roles accessing the plugin.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of the WP Proposals plugin, prioritizing those running versions up to 2.3. 2) Monitor official WP CodeUs channels and trusted vulnerability databases for the release of security patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-57965 and apply them promptly. 3) Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting the plugin's input fields, especially in proposal submission forms. 4) Enforce strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within the plugin, either by applying available plugin updates or by custom development if patches are delayed. 5) Educate users with access to the plugin about the risks of interacting with untrusted content and encourage cautious behavior to reduce the likelihood of triggering stored XSS payloads. 6) Regularly review user privileges and restrict plugin access to only necessary roles to minimize the attack surface. 7) Conduct security testing, including penetration tests focusing on the plugin, to detect any residual or related vulnerabilities.