CVE-2025-6977 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities plugin for WordPress, developed by metagauss. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 5.9.5.4. The root cause is insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the 'pm_get_messenger_notification' function, which processes user input without properly neutralizing potentially malicious scripts. As a result, an unauthenticated attacker can craft a specially crafted URL or link containing malicious JavaScript code. If a logged-in user clicks on this link, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially allowing the attacker to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the user, or manipulate the web page content. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, reflecting a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N) indicates that the attack can be performed remotely over the network without privileges, requires low attack complexity, no privileges, but does require user interaction (clicking the malicious link). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the vulnerable component, with limited impact on confidentiality and integrity, and no impact on availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes have been linked yet. This vulnerability is significant because WordPress is widely used for websites globally, and ProfileGrid is a popular plugin for managing user profiles, groups, and communities, making it a valuable target for attackers aiming to compromise user sessions or conduct phishing attacks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk, especially for those relying on WordPress websites with the ProfileGrid plugin installed. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, and potential data leakage of user information. This can undermine user trust, lead to reputational damage, and potentially violate data protection regulations such as the GDPR if personal data is compromised. Organizations operating online communities, membership sites, or social platforms using this plugin are particularly vulnerable. The reflected XSS nature means attackers must trick users into clicking malicious links, which can be facilitated through phishing campaigns targeting employees or customers. Given the medium severity, the impact on confidentiality and integrity is limited but non-negligible, and availability is not affected. However, the changed scope indicates that the vulnerability could affect other components or user sessions beyond the plugin itself, increasing the risk profile. The lack of a patch at the time of disclosure means organizations must act promptly to mitigate exposure. Overall, this vulnerability could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to user accounts or manipulate user interactions, which is critical for organizations handling sensitive or regulated data.

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or uninstalling the ProfileGrid plugin until a vendor patch is released. 2. If disabling is not feasible, implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting the 'pm_get_messenger_notification' function or reflected XSS payloads. 3. Educate users and employees about the risks of clicking on unsolicited or suspicious links, especially those that appear to come from the organization's domain or related services. 4. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual URL parameters or repeated attempts to exploit XSS vectors. 5. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 6. Regularly update WordPress core and plugins, and subscribe to vendor security advisories to apply patches promptly once available. 7. Conduct security assessments and penetration testing focusing on XSS vulnerabilities in web applications, particularly those involving user-generated content or messaging features. 8. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for user accounts to reduce the impact of session hijacking if exploitation occurs. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate plugin management, user awareness, monitoring, and layered defenses tailored to the specific vulnerability context.