CVE-2025-49380 is a vulnerability classified as deserialization of untrusted data in the WooCommerce Vehicle Parts Finder plugin developed by wpinstinct. This plugin, widely used in WooCommerce-based e-commerce stores to help customers find vehicle parts, suffers from insecure handling of serialized data inputs. Specifically, the plugin allows object injection through deserialization processes, meaning an attacker can craft malicious serialized payloads that, when deserialized by the plugin, execute arbitrary code or manipulate application logic. This type of vulnerability is critical because it can lead to remote code execution, privilege escalation, or data tampering without requiring authentication. The affected versions include all versions up to and including 3.7. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in October 2025, but no CVSS score has been assigned yet, and no public exploits are known. The lack of patches or official mitigation guidance at the time of publication increases the urgency for organizations to monitor and prepare defenses. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems, as attackers could gain unauthorized access or disrupt services. WooCommerce is a popular e-commerce platform, and the Vehicle Parts Finder plugin is specialized but used by automotive parts retailers, making this a targeted threat vector within that niche.

For European organizations, especially those operating e-commerce platforms in the automotive sector, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on web servers, leading to data breaches, defacement, or complete site compromise. This could result in loss of customer trust, financial damage, and regulatory penalties under GDPR due to exposure of personal data. The automotive parts market is substantial in Europe, with many SMEs relying on WooCommerce plugins for their online sales. Disruption or compromise of these systems could impact supply chains and customer service. Additionally, attackers might leverage compromised sites as footholds for broader network intrusion or to distribute malware. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the potential impact remains high given the nature of the vulnerability and the critical role of e-commerce platforms in business operations.

1. Immediately inventory all WooCommerce installations to identify the presence of the Vehicle Parts Finder plugin and its version. 2. Disable or uninstall the affected plugin until a security patch is released by wpinstinct. 3. Monitor official vendor channels and Patchstack for updates or patches addressing CVE-2025-49380 and apply them promptly. 4. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious serialized data inputs or object injection patterns targeting the plugin endpoints. 5. Restrict access to plugin-related endpoints to trusted IPs or authenticated users where feasible. 6. Conduct code reviews and penetration testing focusing on deserialization processes in custom or third-party plugins. 7. Educate developers and administrators about the risks of insecure deserialization and enforce secure coding practices. 8. Maintain regular backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential compromises. 9. Use security plugins that can detect anomalous behavior or code injection attempts in WordPress environments. 10. Consider isolating e-commerce platforms in segmented network zones to limit lateral movement if compromised.