CVE-2025-7649 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the Surbma | Recent Comments Shortcode plugin for WordPress, present in all versions up to and including 2.0. The vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of user-supplied input during web page generation, specifically insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on attributes passed to the 'recent-comments' shortcode. This flaw allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or higher to inject arbitrary malicious scripts into pages that utilize this shortcode. When other users access these compromised pages, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 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 necessary for exploitation. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially compromised component. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input leading to XSS attacks.

For European organizations using WordPress websites with the Surbma | Recent Comments Shortcode plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data. Attackers with contributor-level access—often content editors or similar roles—can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors, including administrators or customers. This can lead to theft of authentication cookies, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users, defacement of websites, or distribution of malware. The impact is particularly critical for organizations handling sensitive user information, e-commerce platforms, or sites with high traffic, as the exploitation can undermine user trust and lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR. Since the vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely, it increases the attack surface. However, the requirement for contributor-level privileges limits exploitation to insiders or attackers who have already compromised lower-level accounts. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as the vulnerability is publicly disclosed.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Immediately audit WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Surbma | Recent Comments Shortcode plugin and verify the version in use. 2) Restrict contributor-level access strictly to trusted users and review user roles to minimize unnecessary privileges. 3) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious shortcode attribute inputs that may contain script tags or malicious payloads. 4) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 5) Monitor website logs and user activity for unusual behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Engage with the plugin vendor or community to obtain or develop patches or updates addressing the vulnerability. 7) Consider temporarily disabling or removing the vulnerable shortcode functionality until a fix is available. 8) Educate content contributors about security best practices to prevent inadvertent injection of malicious content. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, proactive detection, and containment specific to this plugin's vulnerability.