CVE-2025-52817 is a high-severity security vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) affecting the ZealousWeb Abandoned Contact Form 7 plugin, versions up to 2.0. This vulnerability arises due to improperly configured access control mechanisms, allowing unauthorized users to exploit the plugin's functionality without proper authorization checks. Specifically, the vulnerability enables attackers to perform actions that should be restricted, potentially leading to unauthorized modification or disruption of the plugin's operations. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 reflects a high severity level, with an attack vector that is network-based (AV:N), requiring no privileges (PR:N) and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), with no confidentiality impact (C:N), but with integrity (I:L) and availability (A:H) impacts. This indicates that while sensitive data confidentiality is not compromised, the integrity of data or operations can be altered, and availability can be significantly disrupted, possibly causing denial of service or loss of functionality. The vulnerability affects all users of the Abandoned Contact Form 7 plugin up to version 2.0, which is commonly used in WordPress environments to manage abandoned contact form submissions. Given the plugin's role in handling user-submitted data, exploitation could lead to unauthorized data manipulation or service disruption. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the ease of exploitation and high impact make it a critical issue to address promptly.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on WordPress websites utilizing the Abandoned Contact Form 7 plugin for customer engagement or lead management. The lack of authorization controls could allow attackers to manipulate form submissions, potentially injecting malicious data, disrupting business communications, or causing denial of service conditions that affect website availability. This can lead to operational downtime, loss of customer trust, and potential regulatory repercussions under GDPR if personal data integrity or availability is compromised. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and public services, which often use contact forms for client interaction, are particularly vulnerable. The disruption of contact forms can hinder customer support and sales processes, impacting revenue and reputation. Additionally, attackers might leverage this vulnerability as a foothold for further attacks within the network, increasing the overall risk landscape.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of the Abandoned Contact Form 7 plugin. 2) Apply any available patches or updates from ZealousWeb as soon as they are released. In the absence of official patches, consider temporarily disabling or uninstalling the plugin to eliminate exposure. 3) Implement strict access control policies at the web server and application layers, including the use of Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block unauthorized access attempts targeting the plugin's endpoints. 4) Conduct thorough security reviews of all plugins and third-party components, ensuring they follow the principle of least privilege and proper authorization checks. 5) Monitor web server logs and intrusion detection systems for unusual activity related to form submissions or plugin endpoints. 6) Educate website administrators about the risks of using outdated or unmaintained plugins and encourage regular updates and security assessments. 7) Consider implementing additional authentication or CAPTCHA mechanisms on contact forms to reduce automated exploitation risks. These measures, combined, will reduce the attack surface and mitigate potential exploitation until an official patch is available.