CVE-2025-52737 is a vulnerability classified as deserialization of untrusted data in the Tijmen Smit WP Store Locator plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 2.2.260. Deserialization vulnerabilities occur when untrusted input is deserialized into objects without proper validation, enabling attackers to inject malicious objects that can manipulate application logic or execute arbitrary code. In this case, the vulnerability allows object injection, which can lead to remote code execution, privilege escalation, or data compromise. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 reflects a high severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the plugin's widespread use in WordPress sites to provide store locator functionality. Attackers could exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access, manipulate data, or disrupt services. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in October 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. No official patches or mitigations are currently linked, so organizations must be vigilant and proactive.

For European organizations, especially those operating e-commerce or retail websites using the WP Store Locator plugin, this vulnerability could lead to severe consequences. Exploitation may result in unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, manipulation of store location information, or complete site takeover. This compromises customer trust, violates data protection regulations such as GDPR, and can cause significant financial and reputational damage. The high severity and ease of exploitation mean attackers can remotely compromise systems with minimal effort. Disruption of availability could affect business operations, leading to loss of revenue. Furthermore, the integrity impact could allow attackers to inject fraudulent data or redirect customers to malicious locations. The lack of known exploits currently provides a window for mitigation, but the risk remains high due to the potential for rapid development of exploit code.

1. Immediately audit all WordPress sites using the WP Store Locator plugin to identify affected versions (<= 2.2.260). 2. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available; monitor official channels for patch releases. 3. If patches are not yet available, consider disabling or removing the plugin temporarily to eliminate exposure. 4. Restrict access to the plugin’s functionality by limiting user privileges and implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious deserialization payloads or object injection attempts. 5. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation. 6. Conduct thorough logging and monitoring of web server and application logs for unusual activity related to the plugin. 7. Educate site administrators about the risks of deserialization vulnerabilities and the importance of timely updates. 8. Consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) and other hardening techniques to reduce attack surface. 9. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise.