CVE-2025-6787 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Smart Docs plugin for WordPress, developed by ibachal. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.1.0 of the plugin. The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied attributes in the 'smartdocs_search' shortcode. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary malicious scripts into pages. These scripts are then stored and executed whenever any user accesses the compromised page, leading to persistent XSS. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based, requiring low attack complexity and privileges of a contributor or above, but no user interaction is needed for exploitation. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. The impact affects confidentiality and integrity, allowing attackers to steal session tokens, perform actions on behalf of users, or manipulate page content. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no official patches have been released yet. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on July 4, 2025.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Smart Docs plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Stored XSS can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions, and defacement, potentially damaging brand reputation and user trust. Organizations handling sensitive or personal data are at risk of data leakage or manipulation, which could lead to violations of GDPR and other data protection regulations. Since contributor-level access is required, insider threats or compromised accounts could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that all visitors to affected pages are at risk, increasing the attack surface. This is particularly concerning for European entities in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where WordPress is commonly used for content management and public-facing portals. The lack of a patch increases exposure time, and the medium severity score suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it is sufficiently serious to warrant prompt attention.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Smart Docs plugin, particularly versions up to 1.1.0. Until an official patch is released, the following specific mitigations are recommended: 1) Restrict contributor-level access strictly to trusted users and review existing user roles and permissions to minimize risk. 2) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious payloads targeting the 'smartdocs_search' shortcode parameters. 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected sites. 4) Conduct thorough input validation and output encoding on any custom code interacting with the plugin or shortcode. 5) Monitor logs for unusual activity indicative of XSS exploitation attempts. 6) Consider temporarily disabling or removing the Smart Docs plugin if feasible until a patch is available. 7) Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content and enforce strict content review processes. These targeted steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, detection, and containment specific to this vulnerability's characteristics.