CVE-2025-3529 is a vulnerability identified in the WordPress Simple Shopping Cart plugin developed by mra13, affecting all versions up to and including 5.1.2. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-201, which involves the insertion of sensitive information into sent data. Specifically, this flaw arises via the 'file_url' parameter, which can be manipulated by unauthenticated attackers. Exploiting this vulnerability allows attackers to access sensitive information that should not be publicly exposed and to download digital products without authorization or payment. The vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction, making it accessible to any remote attacker with knowledge of the vulnerable parameter. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for unauthorized access to digital goods and sensitive data poses a significant risk to e-commerce operations relying on this plugin. The lack of an official patch at the time of reporting further increases the urgency for mitigation. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by exposing sensitive data and integrity by enabling unauthorized acquisition of digital products, potentially leading to financial losses and reputational damage for affected merchants.

For European organizations, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating e-commerce sites using WordPress with the Simple Shopping Cart plugin, this vulnerability could result in unauthorized access to proprietary digital products and sensitive customer information. This exposure can lead to direct financial losses through product theft, erosion of customer trust, and potential violations of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) due to the exposure of personal data. The integrity of sales processes is compromised, which may affect revenue streams and business continuity. Additionally, organizations may face legal and compliance repercussions if sensitive customer data is leaked. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation by unauthenticated attackers increases the risk of widespread abuse, especially in sectors where digital goods are a primary revenue source, such as digital media, software, and online education platforms.

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling or removing the Simple Shopping Cart plugin until a secure patch is released. 2. Monitor web server logs for unusual access patterns targeting the 'file_url' parameter to detect potential exploitation attempts. 3. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block or sanitize requests containing suspicious 'file_url' parameters. 4. Restrict direct access to digital product files by moving them outside the web root or protecting them via server-side access controls. 5. Employ token-based or session-based authorization checks before allowing downloads of digital products. 6. Regularly update WordPress and all plugins, and subscribe to vendor security advisories for timely patch deployment. 7. Conduct security audits and penetration testing focused on e-commerce workflows to identify similar vulnerabilities. 8. Educate site administrators on secure plugin management and the risks of using outdated or unsupported plugins.