CVE-2025-11970 identifies a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in the Emplibot WordPress plugin, which provides AI-driven content writing, keyword research, infographics, and SEO automation. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.0.9, specifically within the functions emplibot_call_webhook_with_error() and emplibot_process_zip_data(). These functions improperly validate or sanitize URLs used for webhook calls and ZIP data processing, allowing an authenticated attacker with Administrator-level privileges to coerce the server into making HTTP requests to arbitrary internal or external locations. This SSRF can be leveraged to query internal services that are otherwise inaccessible externally, potentially exposing sensitive information or enabling further attacks such as internal network reconnaissance or modification of internal resources. The vulnerability requires high privileges (Administrator) and does not require user interaction, limiting the attack surface to compromised or malicious admin accounts. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.4 (medium severity), reflecting the network attack vector, high attack complexity, required privileges, no user interaction, and limited confidentiality and integrity impacts without availability impact. No public exploits have been reported yet, and no patches are currently linked, indicating that mitigation may rely on vendor updates or access control measures. The vulnerability's scope is confined to WordPress sites using the Emplibot plugin, which may be niche but impactful for affected sites.

For European organizations, this SSRF vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to websites using the Emplibot plugin on WordPress. Successful exploitation could allow attackers with admin access to access internal services, potentially exposing sensitive internal APIs, databases, or configuration endpoints not intended for external access. This could lead to unauthorized data disclosure or limited data manipulation, impacting confidentiality and integrity. While availability is not directly affected, the internal reconnaissance enabled by SSRF could facilitate further attacks. Organizations relying on WordPress for content management and SEO automation, especially those with complex internal networks or sensitive internal services, are at risk. The requirement for administrator privileges limits the threat to scenarios where admin credentials are compromised or misused, emphasizing the importance of strong admin account security. The medium CVSS score reflects a moderate impact but highlights the need for vigilance given the potential for internal network exposure. European entities with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) must consider the confidentiality risks seriously.

1. Immediately restrict Administrator-level access to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 2. Monitor and audit admin activities on WordPress sites using Emplibot to detect suspicious behavior or unauthorized access. 3. If possible, disable or remove the Emplibot plugin until a vendor patch is released to eliminate the attack vector. 4. Implement network segmentation and firewall rules to limit the WordPress server’s ability to make outbound requests to internal services, reducing SSRF impact. 5. Use Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious SSRF patterns originating from the plugin’s webhook or ZIP processing functions. 6. Regularly update WordPress core, plugins, and themes, and subscribe to vendor security advisories for timely patching once available. 7. Conduct internal vulnerability assessments and penetration tests focusing on SSRF and internal service exposure to identify and remediate similar risks. 8. Educate administrators on the risks of SSRF and the importance of safeguarding admin credentials and privileges.