CVE-2025-67986 identifies a DOM-based Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Barn2 Plugins Document Library Lite WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions up to and including 1.1.7. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which allows malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser environment. This type of XSS is client-side (DOM-based), meaning the malicious payload is executed as the browser processes the Document Object Model rather than server-side. The attack vector is remote and does not require authentication, but it does require user interaction, such as clicking a crafted link or visiting a malicious page that triggers the vulnerability. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, reflecting medium severity, with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), scope changed (S:C), and partial impact on confidentiality and integrity (C:L/I:L) but no impact on availability (A:N). The vulnerability could allow attackers to steal sensitive information, hijack user sessions, or manipulate client-side logic, potentially leading to further exploitation or data leakage. No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability is published and should be addressed promptly. The plugin is commonly used in WordPress environments to manage document libraries, making it a relevant target for attackers seeking to compromise websites that rely on this functionality.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for those relying on WordPress sites with the Barn2 Plugins Document Library Lite installed. Successful exploitation could lead to theft of user credentials, session hijacking, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, compromising confidentiality and integrity of sensitive documents and user data. This can result in data breaches, reputational damage, and potential regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is exposed. The medium severity score reflects that while availability is not impacted, the confidentiality and integrity risks are non-trivial. Organizations in sectors such as government, finance, legal, and healthcare, which often use document management plugins, may face increased risk. Additionally, the requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to trigger the exploit, increasing the attack surface. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits following public disclosure.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Monitor Barn2 Plugins official channels for patches and apply updates to Document Library Lite as soon as they become available. 2) Implement strict Content Security Policies (CSP) to restrict execution of untrusted scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 3) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting XSS payloads to detect and block malicious requests. 4) Conduct regular security audits and code reviews of customizations involving the plugin to ensure proper input validation and output encoding. 5) Educate users about phishing risks and the dangers of clicking untrusted links to reduce the likelihood of user interaction-based exploitation. 6) Use security plugins that sanitize inputs and outputs at the WordPress level to add an additional layer of defense. 7) Restrict plugin usage to trusted administrators and limit exposure of document libraries to authenticated users where feasible. These measures, combined with timely patching, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.