CVE-2025-7500 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Ocean Social Sharing plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 2.2.1. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), specifically due to insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied data in social icon titles. Authenticated attackers with at least Contributor-level access can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary malicious scripts into pages. These scripts execute in the context of any user who views the compromised page, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or distribution of malware. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity and requires privileges (Contributor or higher) but no user interaction for exploitation. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. While no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used WordPress plugin poses a significant risk, especially given WordPress’s popularity as a content management system. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting further increases the urgency for mitigation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized script execution within their websites, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of user data and organizational information. Attackers could steal session cookies, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites, damaging brand reputation and user trust. Organizations relying on Ocean Social Sharing for social media integration on their WordPress sites are at risk of persistent XSS attacks, which can be leveraged for phishing or spreading malware. Given the medium CVSS score, the impact is significant but not catastrophic; however, the changed scope means that the vulnerability could affect other components or users beyond the initial contributor role. This is particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive customer data or operating in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, or e-commerce within Europe, where data protection laws like GDPR impose strict requirements on data security and breach notifications. Additionally, the exploitation of this vulnerability could facilitate further attacks within the network if attackers leverage stolen credentials or session tokens.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the use of the Ocean Social Sharing plugin and verify the version in use. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict Contributor-level and higher privileges strictly to trusted users to minimize the risk of malicious script injection; 2) Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting social icon titles; 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected pages; 4) Conduct manual code reviews or use security scanning tools to detect and sanitize user inputs in the plugin’s codebase if custom modifications are possible; 5) Monitor website logs for unusual activities or injection attempts; 6) Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content; and 7) Prepare for rapid patch deployment once the vendor releases an update. Organizations should also consider temporarily disabling the plugin if feasible to eliminate the attack surface.