CVE-2025-4607 is a critical security vulnerability affecting the PSW Front-end Login & Registration plugin for WordPress, developed by empoweringprowebsite. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.12. The root cause is the use of an insufficiently random, low-entropy one-time password (OTP) mechanism within the forget() function, which is part of the password reset process. Specifically, the customer_registration() function leverages this weak OTP generation, allowing unauthenticated attackers to trigger password resets for any user account, including those with administrative privileges. Because the OTP values are predictable or easily guessable, attackers can bypass authentication controls and reset passwords without user interaction or prior credentials. This leads to privilege escalation, enabling full site takeover. The vulnerability is rated with a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 (critical), reflecting its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with ease of exploitation (network vector, no privileges or user interaction required). No patches have been published at the time of disclosure, and no known exploits are reported in the wild yet. However, the severity and nature of the flaw make it a prime target for attackers aiming to compromise WordPress sites using this plugin.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the PSW Front-end Login & Registration plugin for user management. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized administrative access, allowing attackers to manipulate website content, steal sensitive data, deploy malware, or use the compromised site as a launchpad for further attacks within the organization’s network. This can result in data breaches, reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and operational disruptions. Given WordPress’s widespread use across European businesses, government portals, and e-commerce platforms, the potential for large-scale impact is substantial. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and public administration are particularly vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of their data and the criticality of their web presence.

Immediate mitigation steps include disabling the PSW Front-end Login & Registration plugin until a secure patch is released. Organizations should monitor official vendor channels and security advisories for updates or patches addressing CVE-2025-4607. In the interim, implementing additional layers of security such as Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious password reset requests can reduce risk. Enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) on administrative accounts can limit the impact of compromised credentials. Regularly auditing user accounts and password reset logs for unusual activity is recommended. Additionally, organizations should consider alternative, well-maintained plugins with robust security practices for user authentication and password management. For sites already compromised, a full security assessment and incident response are necessary to remove backdoors and restore integrity.