CVE-2025-7726 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the The7 theme for WordPress, a popular website and eCommerce builder. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 12.6.0. The root cause is insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the theme's lightbox rendering code. Specifically, the theme's JavaScript uses jQuery.attr() to read user-supplied 'title' and 'data-dt-img-description' attributes, then concatenates these values into an HTML string that is inserted into the DOM using jQuery.html() without proper escaping or filtering. This allows an attacker with Contributor-level or higher privileges to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages. Because the malicious script is stored, it executes whenever any user accesses the compromised page, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious actions. The vulnerability requires authenticated access with at least Contributor privileges, which means the attacker must have some level of access to the WordPress backend but does not require administrator rights or user interaction to trigger the payload. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required, no user interaction, and partial confidentiality and integrity impact but no availability impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. However, the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with The7 theme, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Stored XSS can enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive data, deface websites, or distribute malware to visitors. In eCommerce contexts, this could lead to theft of customer information, payment data exposure, and loss of customer trust. Given the widespread use of WordPress and The7 theme in Europe, especially among small and medium enterprises relying on these tools for online presence and sales, the impact could be broad. Compromised sites may also be used as launchpads for further attacks within corporate networks or to damage brand reputation. Regulatory frameworks like GDPR impose strict requirements on protecting personal data; exploitation of this vulnerability leading to data breaches could result in significant fines and legal consequences for European entities. The requirement for Contributor-level access limits the attack surface somewhat but does not eliminate risk, as insider threats or compromised user accounts could be leveraged. The lack of user interaction needed for exploitation increases the threat severity, as malicious scripts execute automatically when pages are viewed.

Organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify if The7 theme versions up to 12.6.0 are in use. Until an official patch is released, administrators should consider the following mitigations: 1) Restrict Contributor-level access strictly to trusted users and review user roles and permissions to minimize risk. 2) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns related to the vulnerable attributes ('title' and 'data-dt-img-description'). 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict execution of unauthorized scripts on affected sites. 4) Sanitize and validate all user inputs at the application level, possibly by customizing the theme or using security plugins that enforce stricter input handling. 5) Monitor website content and logs for unusual script injections or modifications. 6) Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted content. Once a patch is available, prioritize immediate update of the theme to a fixed version. Additionally, consider isolating critical WordPress instances and backing up site data regularly to enable rapid recovery if compromise occurs.