CVE-2025-3419 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the WordPress plugin 'Event Manager, Events Calendar, Tickets, Registrations – Eventin' developed by themewinter. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-73, which pertains to External Control of File Name or Path. The flaw exists in the proxy_image() function present in all versions up to and including 4.0.26 of the plugin. It allows unauthenticated attackers to perform arbitrary file read operations on the server hosting the WordPress site. Specifically, the vulnerability enables attackers to craft requests that manipulate file paths, causing the plugin to read and disclose the contents of arbitrary files on the server filesystem. Since no authentication or user interaction is required (CVSS vector: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), this vulnerability can be exploited remotely by any attacker with network access to the affected WordPress instance. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, as sensitive files such as configuration files, credentials, or other private data may be exposed. The integrity and availability of the system are not directly affected by this vulnerability. No public exploits are currently known, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may require vendor updates or manual intervention. The vulnerability was published on May 8, 2025, and has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5, reflecting its high severity due to ease of exploitation and potential data exposure. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of event management plugins, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites relying on this plugin for event-related functionalities.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-3419 can be substantial, especially for those operating event management websites, ticketing platforms, or registration systems using the affected plugin. Confidential data exposure could include internal configuration files, database credentials, or user data, potentially leading to further compromise or data breaches under GDPR regulations. Such breaches could result in regulatory fines, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust. Organizations in sectors like education, entertainment, conferences, and public services that use WordPress event plugins are particularly at risk. Since the vulnerability requires no authentication, attackers can exploit it at scale, increasing the risk of widespread data leakage. Additionally, attackers could leverage disclosed information to mount subsequent attacks, such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The lack of a patch at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate risk management to prevent exploitation.

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or uninstalling the Eventin plugin until a vendor patch is released. 2. Restrict access to the WordPress installation by implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that block suspicious requests targeting the proxy_image() function or unusual file path parameters. 3. Employ strict file system permissions on the web server to limit the exposure of sensitive files, ensuring that the web server user has minimal read access only to necessary directories. 4. Monitor web server logs for anomalous requests attempting to access arbitrary files and set up alerts for potential exploitation attempts. 5. Keep WordPress core and all plugins updated; once a patch is available for this vulnerability, apply it promptly. 6. Consider implementing network-level access controls to restrict access to the WordPress admin and plugin endpoints from trusted IP addresses only. 7. Conduct a thorough security audit of the affected systems to identify any signs of compromise or data exfiltration. 8. Educate site administrators about the risks of installing unverified plugins and the importance of timely updates.