CVE-2025-57981 is a Stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, affecting the catchsquare WP Social Widget plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, allowing malicious actors to inject and store arbitrary JavaScript code within the plugin's data handling processes. When a victim visits a page containing the malicious payload, the injected script executes in their browser context. The affected product versions include all versions up to 2.3.1, with no specific earliest version identified. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L) reveals that exploitation requires network access, low attack complexity, and privileges (authenticated user), with user interaction needed to trigger the payload. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact includes limited confidentiality, integrity, and availability losses, as the attacker can execute scripts in the context of other users, potentially stealing session tokens, defacing content, or performing actions on behalf of users. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved and published in August and September 2025, respectively, indicating recent disclosure. Given the plugin's role in displaying social media widgets on WordPress sites, the vulnerability could be leveraged to target site visitors or administrators, leading to session hijacking, phishing, or malware distribution.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses risks primarily to websites using the catchsquare WP Social Widget plugin. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized actions performed under the guise of legitimate users, data leakage through session token theft, and reputational damage due to defacement or malicious content injection. Organizations relying on WordPress for public-facing websites, especially those integrating social media widgets for user engagement, are at risk. The impact extends to customer trust and compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR, as exploitation could result in unauthorized access to personal data or disruption of services. Additionally, attackers could use the vulnerability as a foothold for further attacks within the organization's network if administrative accounts are compromised. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate but non-trivial risk that requires timely attention to prevent exploitation.

European organizations should undertake the following specific measures: 1) Immediately audit WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of the catchsquare WP Social Widget plugin. 2) Disable or remove the plugin if it is not essential to reduce attack surface. 3) Monitor official catchsquare and WordPress plugin repositories for patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-57981 and apply them promptly once available. 4) Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-generated content, especially in custom code interacting with the plugin or similar components. 5) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with updated rulesets to detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting this vulnerability. 6) Enforce the principle of least privilege by limiting user roles and permissions within WordPress to reduce the impact of authenticated exploitation. 7) Conduct regular security awareness training for administrators and content editors to recognize and avoid social engineering attempts that could facilitate exploitation. 8) Enable Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers visiting affected sites. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on plugin-specific controls, proactive monitoring, and layered defenses.