CVE-2025-57989 is a stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WordPress plugin 'Brajesh Singh WordPress Widgets Shortcode', affecting versions up to 1.0.3. The vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. Specifically, the plugin fails to adequately sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it on web pages, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code that is stored persistently and executed in the context of users visiting the affected site. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L, indicating that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability with limited scope. The vulnerability can lead to session hijacking, defacement, redirection to malicious sites, or execution of unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on 22 September 2025, with the reservation date on 22 August 2025. The plugin is used to add shortcode functionality for widgets in WordPress sites, which are common in content management and website customization.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the affected plugin installed. Stored XSS can compromise user accounts, including those of administrators, leading to unauthorized access or manipulation of website content and data. This can result in data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, reputational damage, and potential regulatory penalties. Additionally, attackers could leverage the vulnerability to distribute malware or phishing content to site visitors, impacting customer trust and business continuity. The impact extends to e-commerce platforms, government portals, educational institutions, and media outlets that use WordPress extensively. Given the medium severity and the requirement for low privileges but user interaction, targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could increase exploitation likelihood. The vulnerability’s scope includes confidentiality, integrity, and availability, meaning sensitive data exposure, unauthorized content changes, and potential site downtime are plausible consequences.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations for the presence of the Brajesh Singh WordPress Widgets Shortcode plugin and verify the version in use. Until an official patch is released, mitigation should include disabling or removing the plugin to eliminate the attack surface. Implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns related to XSS payloads can provide interim protection. Organizations should also enforce strict Content Security Policies (CSP) to restrict script execution sources, reducing the impact of injected scripts. Regular security training for administrators and users to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious site behavior is critical to prevent exploitation requiring user interaction. Monitoring web server and application logs for unusual activities or repeated input patterns can help detect attempted exploitation. Finally, organizations should subscribe to vulnerability disclosure channels and update promptly once a patch is available.