CVE-2025-68548 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79, found in the WebCodingPlace Responsive Posts Carousel Pro plugin, versions up to 15.2. This vulnerability occurs due to improper neutralization of user-supplied input during the generation of web pages, allowing malicious scripts to be stored and later executed in the context of users viewing the affected content. The vulnerability requires an attacker to have low privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R) to exploit, but it has a scope that affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (S:C). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating medium severity. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), meaning exploitation can be performed remotely. Stored XSS can lead to session hijacking, defacement, or redirection to malicious sites, impacting users and potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or steal sensitive data. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The plugin is commonly used in WordPress environments to display posts in a carousel format, making it a target for attackers seeking to leverage popular plugins to compromise websites.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the Responsive Posts Carousel Pro plugin. Stored XSS can lead to theft of user credentials, session tokens, or personal data, violating GDPR requirements and potentially resulting in regulatory penalties. It can also facilitate phishing attacks or malware distribution, damaging brand reputation and customer trust. The availability of the website or service could be disrupted if attackers inject scripts that cause crashes or redirect users. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, and public services that maintain interactive websites are particularly vulnerable. The medium severity rating reflects the balance between the ease of exploitation (low privileges and user interaction required) and the potential for widespread impact due to stored script execution affecting multiple users.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately audit and restrict user input fields associated with the Responsive Posts Carousel Pro plugin to ensure only safe content is accepted. 2) Employ robust output encoding and context-aware escaping to neutralize any potentially malicious input before rendering it on web pages. 3) Monitor web application logs and user activity for unusual patterns indicative of XSS attempts. 4) Apply web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting XSS payloads to provide an additional layer of defense. 5) Engage with the plugin vendor or community to obtain patches or updates as soon as they become available and prioritize their deployment. 6) Educate site administrators and content managers about the risks of XSS and safe content handling practices. 7) Consider disabling or replacing the vulnerable plugin if immediate patching is not possible. 8) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities including XSS.