CVE-2025-6976 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the WordPress plugin 'Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, and more!' developed by netweblogic. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 7.0.3 due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied shortcode attributes. Authenticated users with contributor-level access or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into plugin shortcodes embedded in pages or posts. When other users visit these compromised pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions within the WordPress site. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating improper input validation leading to XSS. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring privileges (contributor or above), no user interaction, and impact on confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date (July 9, 2025). The vulnerability affects a widely used WordPress plugin that manages events, bookings, and tickets, which is often deployed by organizations for public-facing event management websites.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially to those using WordPress with the affected Events Manager plugin to manage event-related content. Exploitation could allow malicious insiders or compromised contributor accounts to inject persistent malicious scripts, leading to theft of user credentials, session tokens, or the ability to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of other users, including administrators. This can result in data breaches, defacement, or further compromise of the website and backend systems. Given the plugin’s role in handling bookings and ticketing, attackers might manipulate booking data or disrupt event operations. The impact extends to reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR if personal data is exposed), and potential financial losses. Since the attack requires contributor-level access, organizations with lax access controls or insufficient user privilege management are at higher risk. The vulnerability’s scope includes all users visiting infected pages, which can include customers and partners, amplifying the risk of widespread impact.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations for the presence of the Events Manager plugin and verify the version in use. Upgrading to a patched version beyond 7.0.3, once available, is the primary mitigation step. Until a patch is released, organizations should restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only and implement strict user role reviews to minimize the number of users who can inject shortcode content. Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious script injections in shortcode attributes can provide temporary protection. Additionally, applying Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can help mitigate the impact of injected scripts by restricting script execution sources. Regular security training for content contributors to recognize and avoid unsafe input practices is recommended. Monitoring logs for unusual shortcode content changes or unexpected script insertions can aid early detection. Finally, organizations should consider isolating event management functionalities or using alternative plugins with better security track records if immediate patching is not feasible.