CVE-2025-58649 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in the All In One SEO Pack plugin developed by Syed Balkhi. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-201, which pertains to the insertion of sensitive information into sent data. Specifically, the issue allows an attacker with at least low privileges (PR:L) to retrieve embedded sensitive data that the plugin inadvertently includes in outbound communications. The vulnerability affects versions up to 4.8.7 of the plugin. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, indicating a medium impact primarily on confidentiality (C:L), with no impact on integrity or availability. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), does not require user interaction (UI:N), and the scope remains unchanged (S:U). Exploitation requires some level of privileges on the target system, but no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability likely arises from improper handling or leakage of sensitive configuration or user data within the plugin’s data transmissions, which could be intercepted or accessed by unauthorized parties if they gain limited access to the system or network traffic. Given the plugin’s role in SEO management on WordPress sites, the sensitive data could include API keys, authentication tokens, or other configuration details that could facilitate further attacks or data exposure.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress websites with the All In One SEO Pack plugin installed. Leakage of sensitive information could lead to unauthorized access to backend systems, exposure of confidential business data, or compromise of user privacy. This is particularly critical for organizations subject to GDPR, as unauthorized disclosure of personal data could result in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, attackers could leverage the exposed data to escalate privileges or conduct further targeted attacks, potentially affecting website availability or integrity indirectly. The medium severity score reflects limited direct damage but highlights a risk vector that could be exploited in multi-stage attacks. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and media, which often use SEO plugins extensively, may face increased risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and the importance of their online presence.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately update the All In One SEO Pack plugin to the latest patched version once available, as no patch links are currently provided but monitoring vendor advisories is critical. 2) Restrict plugin access to trusted administrators only, minimizing the number of users with privileges that could be exploited. 3) Implement network-level protections such as TLS encryption for all web traffic to prevent interception of sensitive data in transit. 4) Conduct regular audits of plugin configurations and logs to detect any unusual data transmissions or access patterns. 5) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to monitor and block suspicious outbound data flows related to the plugin. 6) Consider isolating or sandboxing the plugin environment to limit the scope of data exposure. 7) Educate administrators on the risks of privilege misuse and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. These steps go beyond generic patching advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and network security tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.