CVE-2025-9562 is a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified in the Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress, developed by themeisle. The flaw exists in the plugin's qs_date shortcode, which fails to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied attributes before rendering them on web pages. This improper neutralization of input (CWE-79) allows an authenticated attacker with contributor-level access or higher to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into pages generated by the plugin. Because the malicious script is stored persistently, it executes every time any user accesses the affected page, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, or performing actions on behalf of users without their consent. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 3.2.6. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.4, reflecting medium severity, with an attack vector of network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction, and a scope change (S:C). The impact affects confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The vulnerability requires authenticated access, which limits exposure but still poses a significant risk, especially on sites with multiple contributors or editors. The plugin is widely used in WordPress environments, which are common in European organizations for content management and customer interaction.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized script execution on their WordPress sites, potentially resulting in session hijacking, credential theft, defacement, or unauthorized actions performed by attackers impersonating legitimate users. Since the attack requires contributor-level access, organizations with less restrictive user role management are at higher risk. Compromise of user sessions or data integrity can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, and cause operational disruptions. The vulnerability does not directly affect availability but can be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks. Organizations relying on WordPress for customer-facing or internal portals may face increased risk of targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability. The lack of a patch increases the urgency for interim mitigations. Given the widespread use of WordPress and this plugin in Europe, especially in countries with high digital adoption, the potential impact is significant.

1. Immediately audit user roles and permissions on WordPress sites using the Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin, restricting contributor-level access to trusted users only. 2. Monitor and review all uses of the qs_date shortcode in site content for suspicious or unexpected input that could indicate exploitation attempts. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block malicious script payloads targeting this shortcode. 4. Disable or remove the Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin if it is not essential, or replace it with alternative plugins that do not have this vulnerability. 5. Regularly back up WordPress sites and databases to enable quick restoration in case of compromise. 6. Stay alert for official patches or updates from themeisle and apply them promptly once available. 7. Educate content contributors about the risks of injecting untrusted input and enforce strict content validation policies. 8. Use security plugins that can detect and alert on stored XSS attempts or anomalous shortcode usage. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on role management, shortcode monitoring, and proactive WAF deployment tailored to this specific vulnerability.