CVE-2025-22726 identifies a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in the nK Themes Helper plugin, a component commonly used in WordPress themes to enhance functionality. SSRF vulnerabilities occur when an attacker can manipulate a server to send HTTP requests to arbitrary domains or internal network resources, potentially bypassing firewall restrictions and accessing sensitive information or internal services. This specific vulnerability affects all versions of nK Themes Helper up to and including 1.7.9. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to induce the server to make crafted HTTP requests, which could be leveraged to scan internal networks, access metadata services, or exploit other internal vulnerabilities. No CVSS score has been assigned yet, and no public exploits have been reported, but the nature of SSRF vulnerabilities typically allows for significant impact if exploited. The lack of authentication requirements and the potential to pivot attacks within internal networks make this a critical concern for web servers using this plugin. The vulnerability was reserved in early 2025 and published in January 2026, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. The absence of patch links suggests that a fix may not yet be available, emphasizing the need for immediate attention from affected users.

For European organizations, the SSRF vulnerability in nK Themes Helper could lead to unauthorized internal network reconnaissance, exposing sensitive internal services such as databases, cloud metadata endpoints, or internal APIs. This could result in data leakage, unauthorized access to confidential information, or serve as a stepping stone for further attacks like privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. Websites relying on this plugin may experience compromised confidentiality and integrity of data. Additionally, SSRF can be used to bypass network access controls, potentially impacting availability if attackers exploit internal services or cause denial-of-service conditions. Given the widespread use of WordPress and associated themes in Europe, especially among SMEs and enterprises with web-facing infrastructure, the threat could affect a broad range of sectors including finance, healthcare, and government. The lack of authentication requirement increases the risk of automated exploitation attempts, raising the urgency for mitigation.

1. Monitor official channels and vendor announcements for patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-22726 and apply them immediately upon release. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any user-supplied data that could influence HTTP requests within the plugin’s functionality. 3. Restrict outbound HTTP requests from web servers hosting the plugin to only trusted domains using firewall rules or egress filtering to limit SSRF exploitation scope. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block SSRF attack patterns targeting the plugin. 5. Conduct internal network segmentation to minimize the impact of SSRF by isolating critical internal services from web-facing servers. 6. Regularly audit and monitor server logs for unusual outbound requests or anomalies indicating potential SSRF exploitation attempts. 7. Educate development and security teams about SSRF risks and ensure secure coding practices are followed in custom theme or plugin development. 8. Consider disabling or removing the nK Themes Helper plugin if it is not essential to reduce the attack surface until a patch is available.