CVE-2025-58194 is a vulnerability classified as CWE-79, indicating an Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, commonly known as Cross-site Scripting (XSS). This specific vulnerability affects the Bold Page Builder plugin developed by boldthemes, up to and including version 5.4.3. The vulnerability allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts that are stored persistently within the application, which are then executed in the context of users who access the affected pages. This Stored XSS flaw arises because the Bold Page Builder does not properly sanitize or neutralize user-supplied input before rendering it on web pages. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting 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 indicates that the attack can be launched remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires the attacker to have some privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a low level (C:L/I:L/A:L). There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on August 27, 2025, and assigned by Patchstack. Stored XSS vulnerabilities can be leveraged to perform session hijacking, defacement, phishing, or to deliver malware, potentially compromising user accounts and data confidentiality. Since the vulnerability requires some level of privilege and user interaction, exploitation is somewhat limited but still poses a significant risk especially in environments where multiple users have editing or content creation rights.

For European organizations using the Bold Page Builder plugin, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Stored XSS can lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, data leakage, and manipulation of website content, which can damage brand reputation and lead to regulatory non-compliance, especially under GDPR where personal data protection is critical. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to target administrators or content editors with elevated privileges, potentially gaining further access to backend systems or sensitive information. The scope change in the vulnerability means that the impact could extend beyond the plugin itself, affecting other integrated components or services. Given the widespread use of WordPress and its plugins across European businesses, including SMEs and large enterprises in sectors such as e-commerce, media, and public services, the risk of exploitation could disrupt operations and erode customer trust. Moreover, the requirement for user interaction and some privileges means internal threat actors or compromised accounts could be leveraged for exploitation, increasing the threat surface within organizations.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of the Bold Page Builder plugin. Until an official patch is released, administrators should consider disabling or removing the plugin if feasible, especially on high-value or sensitive sites. Implement strict user role management to limit the number of users with editing privileges, reducing the risk of exploitation. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting the plugin. Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding on all user-generated content, particularly in areas managed by the plugin. Regularly monitor logs and user activity for suspicious behavior indicative of attempted exploitation. Educate users with editing privileges about the risks of interacting with untrusted content or links. Once a patch is available, prioritize its deployment and test the update in a staging environment to ensure compatibility. Additionally, consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate the impact of potential XSS attacks by restricting the execution of unauthorized scripts.