CVE-2025-67986 identifies a DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Barn2 Plugins Document Library Lite WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 1.1.7. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input during the generation of web pages, allowing malicious scripts to be injected and executed within the victim's browser context. This type of XSS is client-side, meaning the malicious payload is executed in the Document Object Model (DOM) environment of the browser, often triggered by crafted URLs or manipulated input fields. The vulnerability does not require the attacker to have any privileges or authentication, but does require user interaction, such as clicking a malicious link. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, reflecting a medium severity level with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and impacts on confidentiality and integrity but not availability. While no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability could be leveraged to steal session tokens, perform actions on behalf of users, or manipulate displayed content, potentially leading to phishing or further attacks. The plugin is commonly used to manage document libraries on WordPress sites, making websites that rely on this plugin for document management susceptible to this attack vector until patched.

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 plugin to manage and share documents. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in users' browsers, leading to theft of session cookies, user impersonation, or manipulation of displayed content. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive documents or internal information, undermining confidentiality and integrity. Although availability is not directly impacted, the reputational damage and potential data breaches could have regulatory consequences under GDPR, including fines and loss of customer trust. Organizations in sectors such as legal, financial, healthcare, and government that use document libraries extensively are at higher risk. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering may be used to trigger the exploit, increasing the attack surface. The medium severity score suggests moderate urgency, but the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin in Europe elevates the importance of timely mitigation.

1. Monitor for and apply official patches or updates from Barn2 Plugins as soon as they are released to address CVE-2025-67986. 2. In the interim, implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of untrusted scripts and reduce the impact of DOM-based XSS. 3. Review and sanitize all user inputs and URL parameters processed by the Document Library Lite plugin, employing server-side validation where possible. 4. Educate users about the risks of clicking suspicious links, especially those that could trigger malicious scripts in the document library context. 5. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting XSS payloads to detect and block exploitation attempts. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on WordPress plugins and their input handling. 7. Limit plugin usage to trusted administrators and restrict access to document library management interfaces. 8. Consider isolating document library functionality or using alternative plugins with stronger security track records if patching is delayed.