CVE-2025-31821 is an Open Redirect vulnerability (CWE-601) found in the formsintegrations plugin that integrates Zoho CRM with Contact Form 7, a popular WordPress form plugin. This vulnerability exists in versions up to 1.0.6 of the integration plugin. An Open Redirect flaw occurs when an application or website accepts a user-controlled input that specifies a URL and redirects the user to that URL without proper validation. In this case, the formsintegrations plugin improperly validates redirect URLs, allowing attackers to craft malicious links that appear to come from a trusted domain but redirect victims to untrusted, potentially malicious sites. This can be leveraged in phishing attacks, where users are tricked into clicking links that seem legitimate but lead to credential harvesting or malware distribution sites. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.7, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N) shows that the attack can be performed remotely over the network without privileges, requires user interaction (clicking the malicious link), and impacts confidentiality by potentially exposing users to phishing. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects components beyond the vulnerable component itself. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for websites using the formsintegrations plugin to connect Zoho CRM with Contact Form 7, which is common in organizations using WordPress for customer engagement and lead capture. Attackers can exploit this to redirect users to phishing sites, undermining user trust and potentially leading to credential theft or further compromise.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk primarily in the context of phishing attacks. Organizations using WordPress sites with the formsintegrations plugin to connect Zoho CRM and Contact Form 7 may inadvertently facilitate phishing campaigns by allowing attackers to craft URLs that redirect users to malicious sites. This can lead to credential compromise, unauthorized access to corporate resources, and data breaches. The impact on confidentiality is notable as users may disclose sensitive information to attackers. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, successful phishing can lead to broader security incidents. Given the widespread use of WordPress and Zoho CRM in Europe, especially among SMEs and enterprises managing customer relationships and marketing, the risk is material. Additionally, phishing attacks exploiting this vulnerability could target employees or customers, potentially violating GDPR requirements related to data protection and incident response. The medium severity score suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation and reputational damage.

1. Immediate mitigation involves monitoring and restricting the use of untrusted redirect URLs within the formsintegrations plugin configuration if possible. 2. Organizations should educate users and employees about the risks of clicking on suspicious links, especially those that appear to come from trusted domains but redirect elsewhere. 3. Web administrators should implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious redirect patterns associated with this vulnerability. 4. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or removing the formsintegrations plugin if it is not essential or replacing it with alternative integration methods that do not exhibit this vulnerability. 5. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on URL redirection and phishing vectors in web applications. 6. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) on Zoho CRM and other critical systems to reduce the impact of credential compromise. 7. Monitor logs for unusual redirect activity and phishing attempts targeting the organization’s web properties. 8. Once a patch is available, apply it promptly and verify that the redirect validation properly restricts redirection to trusted domains only.