CVE-2025-47548 is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability identified in the WordPress plugin "Wbcom Designs - Activity Link Preview For BuddyPress," developed by Varun Dubey. This plugin is designed to enhance BuddyPress by providing link preview functionality within activity streams. The vulnerability affects versions up to 1.4.4. SSRF vulnerabilities occur when an attacker can manipulate a server-side application to make HTTP requests to arbitrary domains or internal systems, potentially bypassing network access controls. In this case, the plugin improperly validates or sanitizes URLs used for generating link previews, allowing an attacker to craft malicious requests that the server executes. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C). The impact affects confidentiality and integrity but not availability. Specifically, an attacker could leverage this SSRF to access internal resources, potentially exposing sensitive information or enabling further attacks such as port scanning or exploiting internal services not exposed externally. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on May 7, 2025, and is recognized by CISA enrichment, indicating awareness by US cybersecurity authorities. Given the plugin's integration with BuddyPress, a popular social networking plugin for WordPress, the attack surface includes websites using this combination for community or social features.

For European organizations, the impact of this SSRF vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with BuddyPress and the affected plugin for community engagement or internal collaboration. SSRF can be exploited to access internal network resources behind firewalls, which may include databases, internal APIs, or cloud metadata services. This could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, such as user information or internal configuration details, undermining confidentiality. Integrity could also be compromised if attackers use SSRF to interact with internal services that allow modification of data or configurations. Although availability is not directly impacted, the indirect consequences of data breaches or lateral movement could disrupt business operations. Organizations subject to GDPR must consider the risk of personal data exposure, which could lead to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, the medium CVSS score reflects that exploitation requires high attack complexity, which may limit widespread exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially from skilled attackers targeting specific organizations. The lack of authentication or user interaction required increases the risk profile, as attackers can exploit the vulnerability remotely without credentials or user action.

To mitigate this SSRF vulnerability, European organizations should first identify if their WordPress installations use the Wbcom Designs - Activity Link Preview For BuddyPress plugin and confirm the version is 1.4.4 or earlier. Immediate mitigation steps include disabling the plugin until a security patch is released. If disabling is not feasible, organizations should implement network-level controls such as restricting outbound HTTP requests from the web server to only trusted destinations, using firewall rules or proxy filtering to block requests to internal IP ranges or sensitive endpoints. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious SSRF patterns, such as unexpected URL parameters or requests to localhost/internal IPs. Monitoring logs for unusual outbound requests originating from the web server can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also stay updated with vendor advisories for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. Additionally, conducting internal security assessments to identify exposed internal services that could be targeted via SSRF can reduce risk. Employing strict input validation and sanitization for URL parameters in custom code or plugins can prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.