CVE-2025-60081 is a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability found in the PDF for Contact Form 7 plugin developed by add-ons.org, affecting all versions up to and including 6.3.4. The vulnerability arises because the plugin improperly handles serialized data inputs, allowing an attacker to inject malicious objects during the deserialization process. This object injection can lead to remote code execution (RCE) without requiring user interaction, provided the attacker has low-level privileges (PR:L). The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 reflects the critical impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector and low attack complexity. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and affects all instances of the plugin in use, potentially compromising the underlying WordPress environment. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability's nature makes it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code on vulnerable web servers. The plugin is commonly used to generate PDFs from Contact Form 7 submissions, often containing sensitive user data, increasing the risk of data leakage or system compromise. The lack of an available patch at the time of publication necessitates immediate risk mitigation strategies.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat, especially for those relying on WordPress websites with Contact Form 7 and the PDF add-on plugin to handle customer or internal communications. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data submitted via contact forms, including personal identifiable information (PII), which is subject to GDPR regulations. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely can result in full system compromise, data breaches, defacement, or use of the server as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. This could disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and lead to regulatory penalties. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of the data handled and the potential impact of service disruption. The widespread use of WordPress in Europe amplifies the risk, making timely mitigation essential to prevent exploitation.

1. Monitor official channels from add-ons.org and Patchstack for the release of a security patch addressing CVE-2025-60081 and apply it immediately upon availability. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict access to the PDF for Contact Form 7 plugin by limiting permissions to trusted administrators only, minimizing the attack surface. 3. Implement web application firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious serialized data patterns targeting the plugin. 4. Conduct thorough audits of WordPress user roles and permissions to ensure no unnecessary privileges are granted that could facilitate exploitation. 5. Regularly back up WordPress sites and databases to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. 6. Employ intrusion detection systems (IDS) and monitor logs for unusual activity related to the plugin or deserialization attempts. 7. Educate site administrators about the risks of deserialization vulnerabilities and the importance of timely updates. 8. Consider temporarily disabling the PDF for Contact Form 7 plugin if it is not critical to operations until a patch is available.