CVE-2025-7648 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Ruven Themes: Shortcodes plugin for WordPress, specifically through the 'ruven_button' shortcode. This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified under CWE-79. The root cause is insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of user-supplied attributes in all versions of the plugin up to and including version 1.0. An authenticated attacker with contributor-level access or higher can exploit this flaw by injecting arbitrary JavaScript code into pages via the shortcode attributes. When other users visit the compromised pages, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or unauthorized actions within the context of the affected website. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (remote), requires low attack complexity, and privileges at the contributor level, but no user interaction is required for exploitation. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable plugin, potentially impacting the broader WordPress environment. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. This vulnerability highlights the risks associated with insufficient input validation in WordPress plugins, especially those that allow content creation or modification by authenticated users with limited privileges.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Ruven Themes: Shortcodes plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to website integrity and user trust. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized script execution, enabling attackers to steal session cookies, deface websites, or perform actions on behalf of legitimate users. This can result in data breaches, reputational damage, and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is compromised. Since contributor-level access is required, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. The impact is particularly critical for organizations relying on WordPress for customer-facing portals, e-commerce, or internal collaboration platforms, as malicious scripts could facilitate phishing, malware distribution, or lateral movement within the network. Additionally, the scope change indicates that the vulnerability could affect other components or plugins interacting with Ruven Themes, amplifying the potential damage. Although no active exploits are known, the medium severity and ease of exploitation warrant prompt attention to prevent future attacks.

1. Immediate mitigation involves restricting contributor-level access to trusted users only and reviewing existing contributor accounts for suspicious activity. 2. Disable or remove the Ruven Themes: Shortcodes plugin until a security patch or update is available. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the 'ruven_button' shortcode attributes. 4. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected sites. 5. Conduct a thorough audit of all user-generated content for injected scripts and sanitize or remove any suspicious entries. 6. Monitor logs for unusual activity related to shortcode usage or contributor actions. 7. Once a patch is released, promptly update the plugin to the fixed version. 8. Educate content contributors on secure content practices and the risks of injecting untrusted code. 9. Consider implementing additional input validation and output encoding at the application level as a defense-in-depth measure.