CVE-2025-6462 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the scheeeli EZ SQL Reports Shortcode Widget and DB Backup plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 5.25.11. The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes in the plugin's SQLREPORT shortcode. An authenticated attacker with contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary malicious scripts into pages generated by the plugin. These scripts execute in the context of any user who views the compromised page, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or other malicious actions. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, reflecting a medium severity level. The vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), with a scope change (S:C), and impacts confidentiality and integrity (C:L/I:L) but not availability (A:N). No public exploits are currently known in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input leading to XSS attacks. Given that WordPress is a widely used content management system, and this plugin is used for SQL reporting and database backup functionalities, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites that rely on it, especially those with multiple contributors or editors who have authenticated access.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, session hijacking, and potential compromise of user accounts, especially for websites that allow multiple contributors or editors. Since the attack requires authenticated access at contributor level or above, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts could be leveraged to inject malicious scripts. The stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload persists and affects all users who access the infected page, potentially including administrators. This can lead to further exploitation such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the web application. Organizations relying on this plugin for database reporting or backup may face data integrity risks if attackers manipulate reports or backup data. Additionally, reputational damage and regulatory compliance issues (e.g., GDPR) could arise if personal data is exposed or manipulated. The medium severity score indicates a moderate but non-trivial risk, emphasizing the need for timely mitigation especially in sectors with sensitive data or critical web presence.

1. Immediate mitigation involves restricting contributor-level access to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious injection. 2. Monitor and audit user-generated content and shortcode usage within the affected plugin to detect suspicious or unexpected script injections. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules tailored to detect and block typical XSS payloads targeting the SQLREPORT shortcode. 4. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling the EZ SQL Reports Shortcode Widget and DB Backup plugin if feasible, or replace it with alternative plugins that have secure input handling. 5. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce strict content review policies. 6. Regularly update WordPress core and plugins to the latest versions once a patch addressing this vulnerability is available. 7. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict execution of unauthorized scripts on the website. 8. Conduct penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities in the affected environment to identify and remediate any exploitation attempts.