CVE-2025-60174 identifies a critical vulnerability in the CRM Perks WP Gravity Forms Constant Contact Plugin, specifically versions up to and including 1.1.2. The vulnerability arises from the unsafe deserialization of untrusted data, which enables object injection attacks. Deserialization is the process of converting data from a format suitable for storage or transmission back into an object in memory. When this process is not securely handled, attackers can craft malicious serialized objects that, when deserialized, execute arbitrary code or manipulate application logic. In this case, the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize serialized input, allowing attackers to inject malicious objects. This can lead to remote code execution, privilege escalation, or data manipulation within WordPress environments. The plugin integrates Gravity Forms—a popular WordPress form builder—with Constant Contact, a widely used email marketing platform, making it a critical component in marketing and customer engagement workflows. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the nature of the vulnerability and the widespread use of WordPress and its plugins make this a significant risk. The vulnerability was reserved in late September 2025 and published in December 2025, with no CVSS score assigned yet and no official patch links available at the time of reporting. The lack of authentication requirements and the potential for remote exploitation increase the threat level. Organizations using this plugin should prioritize monitoring and mitigation efforts to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be substantial. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, including contact information and marketing preferences, undermining data confidentiality and privacy compliance obligations such as GDPR. Attackers could also execute arbitrary code on affected WordPress servers, potentially leading to website defacement, data theft, or pivoting to other internal systems. Disruption of marketing automation workflows could impair customer engagement and business operations. Given the plugin’s role in integrating form data with Constant Contact, a successful attack might also compromise email marketing campaigns, resulting in reputational damage and financial loss. The impact is particularly critical for sectors heavily reliant on digital marketing and customer relationship management, such as retail, finance, and telecommunications. Additionally, the widespread adoption of WordPress across European enterprises and SMEs increases the attack surface. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the risk remains high due to the ease of exploitation and potential severity of outcomes.

Immediate mitigation steps include disabling or uninstalling the affected WP Gravity Forms Constant Contact Plugin until a secure patch is released by CRM Perks. Organizations should monitor official vendor channels and security advisories for patch availability and apply updates promptly. Implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious serialized payloads can provide interim protection. Reviewing and restricting user inputs that interact with the plugin, especially those involving serialized data, is critical. Employing strict input validation and sanitization routines can reduce the risk of malicious object injection. Additionally, isolating WordPress instances and limiting plugin permissions can minimize potential damage. Regular backups and incident response plans should be updated to address potential exploitation scenarios. Security teams should conduct vulnerability scans and penetration tests focused on deserialization vulnerabilities within their WordPress environments. Finally, educating developers and administrators about secure coding practices related to serialization and deserialization is essential for long-term risk reduction.