CVE-2025-12136 is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability classified under CWE-918, affecting the Real Cookie Banner: GDPR & ePrivacy Cookie Consent plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability arises from inadequate validation of the 'url' parameter in the '/scanner/scan-without-login' REST API endpoint, allowing authenticated users with administrator-level privileges to induce the server to send HTTP requests to arbitrary locations. This can be leveraged to access internal network resources that are otherwise inaccessible externally, potentially leading to information disclosure or unauthorized internal service interaction. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 5.2.4 of the plugin. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.8, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and high privileges required, but no user interaction needed. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. Although no public exploits are known, the ability to query and modify internal services via SSRF poses a significant risk, especially in environments where internal services hold sensitive data or perform critical functions. The plugin is widely used in WordPress sites to manage cookie consent in compliance with GDPR and ePrivacy regulations, making it a common component in European websites. The vulnerability's exploitation requires administrative access, which limits the attack surface but still represents a critical risk if an attacker gains such access through other means.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized internal network reconnaissance and potential data exposure from internal services that are not directly accessible from the internet. Given the plugin's role in GDPR and ePrivacy compliance, affected organizations may face regulatory scrutiny if exploitation leads to data breaches involving personal data. The SSRF can be used to bypass network segmentation, access internal APIs, or manipulate internal services, potentially compromising confidentiality. Although integrity and availability impacts are not directly indicated, the ability to query and modify internal services could lead to further chained attacks. Organizations relying on WordPress sites with this plugin are at risk, especially those in sectors with sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, and government. The requirement for administrator-level access means that initial compromise or insider threats are prerequisites, but once obtained, the attacker can leverage this SSRF to escalate their impact. This vulnerability could also be used to pivot attacks within corporate networks, increasing the overall risk posture.

1. Immediate upgrade to a patched version of the Real Cookie Banner plugin once available; monitor vendor advisories for updates. 2. Restrict administrative access to the WordPress backend using strong authentication methods, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of privilege escalation. 3. Implement network-level controls to limit the WordPress server's ability to make outbound HTTP requests to internal services, using firewall rules or web application firewalls (WAFs) with SSRF detection capabilities. 4. Conduct regular audits of installed plugins and their versions to identify vulnerable components promptly. 5. Employ strict input validation and sanitization for any user-supplied URLs if custom modifications exist. 6. Monitor logs for unusual outbound requests originating from the WordPress server, which may indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Segment internal networks to minimize the impact of SSRF by isolating critical internal services from web-facing servers. 8. Educate administrators on the risks of SSRF and the importance of safeguarding admin credentials. 9. Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions that can detect and block SSRF attempts in real-time.