The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-12676 affects the KiotViet Sync plugin for WordPress, which is used to synchronize product data between WordPress sites and the KiotViet platform. The root cause is the use of a hardcoded password within the QueryControllerAdmin::authenticated function, which is responsible for authenticating administrative queries. This hardcoded password allows any unauthenticated attacker to bypass normal authorization checks and perform actions such as creating and syncing products without valid credentials. Since the vulnerability is present in all versions up to and including 1.8.5, any deployment using these versions is at risk. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, indicating a medium severity level, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The impact affects integrity (I:L) but not confidentiality or availability. No patches or known exploits have been reported at the time of publication, but the presence of a hardcoded password is a critical security anti-pattern that can be exploited easily once discovered. The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized manipulation of product data, potentially affecting business operations and data trustworthiness. The plugin is primarily used in WordPress environments, which are widely adopted across Europe, especially in e-commerce and retail sectors. The CWE-259 classification highlights the fundamental issue of insecure credential management. Remediation requires removing the hardcoded password and implementing secure authentication methods, ideally with unique credentials per installation and proper access controls.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized data manipulation within WordPress sites using the KiotViet Sync plugin. Attackers exploiting this flaw can create or modify product data, potentially leading to inventory inaccuracies, fraudulent transactions, or disruption of e-commerce operations. This could damage business reputation, cause financial losses, and undermine customer trust. Since the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability directly, the primary concern is integrity of business-critical data. However, unauthorized changes might cascade into operational disruptions or compliance violations, especially under regulations like GDPR if personal data is indirectly affected. The ease of exploitation (no authentication or user interaction required) increases the likelihood of attacks, particularly against publicly accessible WordPress sites. European companies relying on KiotViet Sync for inventory or sales synchronization should consider this a significant risk to their operational integrity and act promptly to mitigate it.

1. Monitor the vendor’s official channels for a security patch addressing CVE-2025-12676 and apply it immediately upon release. 2. If a patch is not yet available, disable the KiotViet Sync plugin temporarily to prevent exploitation. 3. Conduct a code review of the plugin to identify and remove the hardcoded password from the QueryControllerAdmin::authenticated function. 4. Replace hardcoded credentials with secure authentication mechanisms, such as environment variables or configuration files with restricted access. 5. Implement additional access controls at the web server or application firewall level to restrict access to the plugin’s administrative endpoints. 6. Audit logs for suspicious activity related to product creation or synchronization to detect potential exploitation attempts. 7. Educate development and operations teams about the risks of hardcoded credentials and enforce secure coding practices. 8. Regularly update WordPress and all plugins to their latest versions to minimize exposure to known vulnerabilities. 9. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block unauthorized attempts targeting the plugin’s endpoints. 10. Perform penetration testing focused on authentication bypass scenarios to validate the effectiveness of mitigations.