CVE-2025-58826 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the WP Publication Archive plugin developed by Eric Mann, affecting versions up to 3.0.1. The vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. This flaw allows an attacker with at least low privileges (PR:L) and requiring user interaction (UI:R) to inject malicious scripts that are stored persistently within the application. When other users or administrators view the affected pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), partial privileges required, user interaction needed, and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all low but present). The vulnerability scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability affects a WordPress plugin commonly used to manage publication archives, which may be deployed on websites of academic institutions, research organizations, and publishers.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk, especially for academic, research, and publishing entities that utilize the WP Publication Archive plugin. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information (confidentiality impact), manipulation of displayed content or user data (integrity impact), and potential disruption of service (availability impact). Stored XSS can also be a vector for delivering further attacks such as phishing, malware distribution, or session hijacking, which could compromise user accounts and organizational networks. Given the plugin’s role in managing publication data, exploitation might undermine trust in the integrity of published content and damage organizational reputation. Additionally, GDPR considerations mean that any data leakage or compromise could lead to regulatory scrutiny and fines. The requirement for low privileges and user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the likelihood of successful attacks if the plugin remains unpatched.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of the WP Publication Archive plugin. Until an official patch is released, administrators should consider disabling or removing the plugin if it is not critical. Implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block common XSS payloads can provide temporary protection. Input validation and output encoding should be enforced at the application level where possible. Organizations should also educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or interacting with untrusted content. Monitoring logs for unusual activities related to the plugin’s pages can help detect exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should subscribe to vendor and security advisories to apply patches promptly once available.