CVE-2025-60176 identifies a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WP Tesseract plugin developed by tattersoftware, impacting versions up to and including 1.0.2. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which allows malicious scripts to be stored and later executed in the context of a victim's browser. This type of XSS is particularly dangerous because the malicious payload persists on the server and can affect multiple users who view the compromised content. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L), the attack requires network access, low attack complexity, but demands high privileges (such as an administrator or editor) and user interaction to trigger the payload. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent, potentially allowing attackers to hijack sessions, manipulate content, or cause partial denial of service. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating the need for vigilance and proactive mitigation. The vulnerability affects the WordPress ecosystem, where WP Tesseract is a plugin used for specific functionalities, making it relevant to websites relying on this plugin for content or service delivery.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to websites using the WP Tesseract plugin. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized script execution in the browsers of users with access to the affected pages, potentially resulting in session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites. While the requirement for high privileges and user interaction limits the attack surface, insider threats or compromised administrative accounts could leverage this vulnerability to escalate attacks. This could impact the confidentiality of sensitive user data, the integrity of website content, and availability through disruptive scripts. Organizations in sectors with high reliance on WordPress CMS and plugins, such as media, e-commerce, and public services, may face reputational damage and compliance risks under GDPR if user data is compromised. The absence of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for prompt remediation, especially given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe.

1. Monitor for official patches or updates from tattersoftware and apply them immediately once available. 2. Restrict administrative and editor privileges to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of malicious input from high-privilege users. 3. Implement robust input validation and sanitization on all user-generated content to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 4. Deploy Content Security Policies (CSP) to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 5. Regularly audit and monitor logs for suspicious activities related to plugin usage and user inputs. 6. Educate administrators and content managers about the risks of XSS and the importance of cautious content handling. 7. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the WP Tesseract plugin if immediate patching is not feasible. 8. Use Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block XSS payloads targeting known vulnerable endpoints.