CVE-2025-12496 is a directory traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-22 affecting the Zephyr Project Manager plugin for WordPress, versions up to and including 3.3.203. The vulnerability arises from improper validation of the 'file' parameter, allowing authenticated users with Custom-level or higher privileges to manipulate the pathname and access files outside the intended directory scope. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive server files, including configuration files, credentials, or other protected data. Additionally, if the server configuration enables 'allow_url_fopen', the vulnerability can be leveraged to perform Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), potentially allowing attackers to make arbitrary requests from the server to internal or external systems. The vulnerability requires authentication but no user interaction, and the attack vector is network-based with low complexity. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.9, indicating medium severity, with a high impact on confidentiality but no impact on integrity or availability. No patches have been linked yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on December 17, 2025, and was assigned by Wordfence. Organizations using this plugin should consider immediate mitigation steps to prevent data leakage and SSRF attacks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to confidentiality, as attackers with authenticated access can read arbitrary files, potentially exposing sensitive business data, user information, or credentials. The SSRF capability could allow attackers to pivot inside internal networks, accessing internal services or cloud metadata endpoints, which could lead to further compromise. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe and the popularity of project management plugins, organizations using Zephyr Project Manager are at risk, especially if they have not restricted plugin access or hardened server configurations. The impact is heightened in sectors with strict data protection regulations like GDPR, where data breaches can result in heavy fines and reputational damage. Although the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability directly, the information disclosure and SSRF risks can facilitate more severe attacks. The requirement for authenticated access limits exposure but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with many users or weak access controls.

1. Immediately restrict access to the Zephyr Project Manager plugin to only trusted users with the minimum necessary privileges, ideally limiting Custom-level access and above. 2. Disable or tightly control 'allow_url_fopen' in PHP configurations to prevent SSRF exploitation. 3. Monitor and audit user activities within WordPress to detect unusual file access patterns. 4. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block directory traversal attempts targeting the 'file' parameter. 5. Regularly update the plugin once a patch is released by the vendor; until then, consider disabling the plugin if feasible. 6. Conduct internal scans for sensitive files exposed via this vulnerability and rotate any potentially compromised credentials. 7. Harden server file permissions to minimize accessible files by the web server user. 8. Educate administrators and users about the risks of elevated privileges and enforce strong authentication mechanisms.