Author: Ameeba

Overview

In this post, we will take a deep dive into the details of CVE-2025-52709, a high-risk cybersecurity threat that affects the Everest Forms plugin on the WordPress platform. This vulnerability exposes systems to a deserialization of untrusted data attack, which can potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage. The severity of this issue is underscored by its Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) severity score of 9.8, which is considered critical.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-52709
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Everest Forms | From unspecified versions to 3.2.2

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability exists due to the deserialization of untrusted data by the Everest Forms plugin. In software development, serialization is the process of converting an object’s state to a byte stream, and deserialization is the reverse process. When a system deserializes data from untrusted sources without adequate validation, it can open the door for an attacker to inject malicious code, resulting in an Object Injection attack.

Conceptual Example Code

An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability by sending a manipulated serialized object to the affected application. Here’s a simplified example of how the payload might look:

POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=everest_forms_save_form_entry HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
form_data={ "form_id": "1", "entry_id": "1", "form_data": "O:8:\"stdClass\":1:{s:4:\"code\";s:39:\"system('rm -rf /');\";}" }

In this example, the attacker sends a serialized object containing a malicious `system()` function in the form submission. If successful, this would cause destructive behavior on the victim’s server.

Mitigation Actions

Users of the Everest Forms plugin are strongly recommended to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible to mitigate this vulnerability. In the absence of a patch, it’s recommended to use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as temporary mitigation. It’s also crucial to regularly update software and plugins and to maintain a robust security posture to protect against such vulnerabilities.

Overview

CVE-2025-49885 is a critical vulnerability that affects the HaruTheme Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload (Pro) – WooCommerce plugin. This vulnerability allows an attacker to upload a malicious web shell to a web server, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage. Given the popularity of WooCommerce and the widespread use of file upload plugins, the impact of this vulnerability could be significant. It is critical for administrators and developers using this plugin to understand the severity of this vulnerability and take immediate steps to mitigate its risks.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-49885
Severity: Critical (CVSS 10.0)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise, potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

HaruTheme Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload (Pro) – WooCommerce | n/a through 5.0.6

How the Exploit Works

This vulnerability exists due to insufficient restrictions on file uploads within the HaruTheme Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload (Pro) – WooCommerce plugin. An attacker can exploit this flaw by uploading a web shell – a script that enables remote administration – onto the web server. Once uploaded, the attacker can execute arbitrary commands on the server, potentially leading to full system compromise.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability, using a POST request to upload a malicious web shell to the vulnerable endpoint.

POST /upload_file HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=----WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="shell.php"
Content-Type: application/x-php
<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW--

In the above example, `shell.php` is a simple web shell that executes commands passed to it via the `cmd` GET parameter. An attacker could use a similar method to upload a far more sophisticated web shell, potentially leading to a full system compromise.

Overview

CVE-2025-32281 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability identified in the FocuxTheme WPKit For Elementor. This flaw allows potential threat actors to escalate their privileges, leading to system compromise or data leakage. The vulnerability impacts all versions of WPKit For Elementor up to and including 1.1.0. The severity of this vulnerability is underscored by its CVSS Severity Score of 9.8, indicating a critical security issue that requires immediate attention.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-32281
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise, data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

WPKit For Elementor | n/a through 1.1.0

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability arises from the lack of proper authorization checks in the WPKit For Elementor plugin. This lapse allows attackers to bypass access controls and gain unauthorized access to certain functions or data. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can escalate their privileges within the system, potentially leading to unauthorized system modifications, data access, and even system takeover.

Conceptual Example Code

Given the nature of the vulnerability, an attacker might send a specially crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable endpoint. Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:

POST /privileged_endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: targetwebsite.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "username": "attacker", "password": "123456", "action": "escalate_privileges" }

In this conceptual example, the attacker attempts to escalate their privileges by sending a POST request to a privileged endpoint. Because the WPKit For Elementor plugin doesn’t properly validate the user’s authorization, this request could potentially be successful, granting the attacker elevated privileges.

Recommendations for Mitigation

Users of the affected WPKit For Elementor plugin versions are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. In circumstances where immediate patching is not possible, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation, although these measures will not fully eliminate the risk. It is always recommended to keep all software and plugins updated to the latest version to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.

Overview

This article explores the critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-28970, discovered in the WP Optimize By xTraffic plugin for WordPress sites. The vulnerability is of significant concern due to its high severity score of 9.8, indicating the potential for severe damage if exploited. The flaw affects users of the WP Optimize By xTraffic plugin, which is utilized to optimize their websites. A successful exploit could result in a complete system compromise and potential data leakage, proving devastating to the affected businesses and their clients.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-28970
Severity: Critical (9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Complete system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

WP Optimize By xTraffic | n/a through 5.1.6

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability lies in the deserialization of untrusted data in the WP Optimize By xTraffic plugin. Deserialization is a process that transforms data from a raw binary format into an object that a program can manipulate. The flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious objects into the data stream, leading to Object Injection. When the program tries to deserialize the malicious object, it can execute harmful actions, potentially compromising the system or causing data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example of how this vulnerability could be exploited. In this case, a malicious HTTP POST request is sent to a vulnerable endpoint on the target server:

POST /vulnerable/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "object": {"__destruct": {"command":"rm -rf /"}} }

In this example, the attacker is using the `__destruct` method to execute a destructive command when the object is deserialized. This command would delete all files in the root directory of the server, effectively causing a system compromise.

Mitigation Guidance

Users of the affected WP Optimize By xTraffic plugin versions are advised to apply the vendor patch to fix the vulnerability. As a temporary mitigation measure, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be deployed. These systems can detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Regular updates of all software and systems are also recommended as a good security practice.