CVE-2025-8686 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting the WP Easy FAQs plugin for WordPress, developed by wen-solutions. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.0.5 due to improper input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied attributes within the plugin's WP_EASY_FAQ shortcode. Specifically, authenticated users with author-level privileges or higher can inject arbitrary malicious scripts into FAQ pages. These scripts are stored persistently and executed in the browsers of any users who view the compromised pages, leading to potential session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond visiting the infected page and does not require higher privileges than author-level access, which is common in WordPress content management workflows. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required at the author level, no user interaction needed, and a scope change with limited confidentiality and integrity impact but no availability impact. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date (September 11, 2025). The vulnerability stems from CWE-79, indicating improper neutralization of input during web page generation, a classic XSS issue that can be mitigated by proper input validation and output encoding.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the WP Easy FAQs plugin, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Attackers with author-level access—such as content creators or editors—can inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of site visitors, including customers, employees, or partners. This can lead to theft of session cookies, enabling account takeover or privilege escalation, unauthorized actions performed in the context of the victim, or distribution of malware. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe for corporate websites, e-commerce, and informational portals, exploitation could damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and cause regulatory compliance issues under GDPR due to unauthorized data access or leakage. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require external unauthenticated access, limiting risk to insiders or compromised accounts, but the impact on confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data can be significant. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits post-disclosure.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the WP Easy FAQs plugin and verify the version in use. Since no official patch links are provided, organizations should monitor the vendor’s channels for updates or patches addressing this vulnerability. In the interim, restrict author-level privileges strictly to trusted users and review existing author accounts for suspicious activity. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the WP_EASY_FAQ shortcode parameters. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the impact of injected scripts by restricting script sources. Additionally, sanitize and validate all user inputs on the server side, and consider disabling or replacing the vulnerable plugin with a secure alternative if immediate patching is not feasible. Regularly audit logs for unusual activity and educate content authors about security best practices to minimize risk of accidental injection.