CVE-2022-2437 is a critical security vulnerability affecting the WordPress plugin 'Feed Them Social – Page, Post, Video, and Photo Galleries' developed by slickremix. This vulnerability arises from unsafe deserialization of untrusted data, specifically via the 'fts_url' parameter in versions up to and including 2.9.8.5. Deserialization vulnerabilities occur when an application deserializes data from untrusted sources without proper validation, allowing attackers to manipulate the serialized input to execute arbitrary code or perform unauthorized actions. In this case, the vulnerability enables unauthenticated attackers to exploit the PHAR (PHP Archive) wrapper to deserialize malicious payloads embedded within uploaded files. The attack requires the attacker to successfully upload a file containing a serialized PHP object payload. If a suitable Property Oriented Programming (POP) chain exists within the application or its dependencies, the attacker can leverage it to execute arbitrary PHP code, leading to full compromise of the affected system. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8, indicating critical severity with network attack vector, no privileges required, no user interaction, and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the high severity and ease of exploitation make it a significant risk for WordPress sites using this plugin. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting further exacerbates the threat. This vulnerability highlights the dangers of insecure deserialization in web applications, especially in widely used CMS plugins that process user-supplied data without sufficient validation or sanitization.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, particularly for those relying on WordPress websites that utilize the Feed Them Social plugin to aggregate social media content. Successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, including unauthorized data access, data manipulation, website defacement, or use of the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks within the corporate network. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability and the fact that it requires no authentication or user interaction, attackers can remotely exploit vulnerable sites at scale. This can result in significant operational disruption, reputational damage, and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is exposed or altered. Additionally, compromised websites may be used to distribute malware or conduct phishing campaigns targeting European users, amplifying the threat landscape. Organizations in sectors with high web presence such as e-commerce, media, and public services are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known active exploits does not diminish the urgency, as automated scanning and exploitation tools could emerge rapidly given the public disclosure.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Feed Them Social plugin, especially versions up to 2.9.8.5. Since no official patches are indicated at the time of this report, organizations should consider the following specific mitigations: 1) Temporarily disable or uninstall the vulnerable plugin to eliminate the attack vector. 2) Restrict file upload capabilities on the web server to trusted users only and implement strict validation and sanitization of uploaded files to prevent malicious payloads. 3) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the 'fts_url' parameter or attempts to use PHAR wrappers. 4) Monitor web server logs for unusual file upload activity or anomalous requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Harden PHP configurations by disabling PHAR stream wrappers if not required, reducing the attack surface. 6) Keep WordPress core and all plugins updated and subscribe to vendor security advisories for prompt patching once available. 7) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on deserialization and file upload functionalities. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific exploitation mechanics of this vulnerability.