CVE-2025-60224 is a critical security vulnerability found in the wpshuffle Subscribe to Download WordPress plugin, affecting all versions up to and including 2.0.9. The flaw arises from insecure deserialization of untrusted data, which allows attackers to perform object injection attacks. Deserialization vulnerabilities occur when an application deserializes data from untrusted sources without sufficient validation, enabling attackers to manipulate serialized objects to execute arbitrary code or alter application logic. In this case, the vulnerability allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to send specially crafted requests to the plugin, triggering the deserialization process and injecting malicious objects. This can lead to remote code execution (RCE), complete compromise of the website, data theft, or denial of service. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the vulnerability's critical severity, with attack vector being network-based, no required privileges or user interaction, and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the nature of the vulnerability and its presence in a popular WordPress plugin make it a high-risk target for attackers. The plugin is commonly used to manage content downloads after subscription, often in e-commerce or membership sites, increasing the attractiveness of this attack vector. The vulnerability was published on October 22, 2025, with no patch links currently available, indicating that users must monitor vendor updates closely. The vulnerability was assigned by Patchstack and is listed in the CVE database, confirming its recognition by the security community.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-60224 can be severe. Websites using the Subscribe to Download plugin are at risk of full compromise, including unauthorized data access, defacement, or complete service disruption. This can lead to loss of customer trust, regulatory penalties under GDPR for data breaches, and financial losses from downtime or fraud. E-commerce and membership sites relying on this plugin are particularly vulnerable to theft of personal and payment data. The ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction increases the likelihood of automated attacks and widespread exploitation. Additionally, compromised sites could be used as launchpads for further attacks within corporate networks or to distribute malware to European users. The reputational damage and compliance risks are significant, especially for organizations in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and retail. The lack of a patch at the time of disclosure means organizations must implement interim mitigations promptly to reduce exposure.

1. Monitor the vendor’s official channels and Patchstack for the release of a security patch addressing CVE-2025-60224 and apply it immediately upon availability. 2. Until a patch is released, disable or deactivate the Subscribe to Download plugin to eliminate the attack surface. 3. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious serialized data payloads targeting the plugin’s endpoints. 4. Conduct code reviews or use security scanners to identify unsafe deserialization patterns in custom or third-party plugins. 5. Restrict access to the plugin’s functionality by IP whitelisting or authentication where feasible to reduce exposure. 6. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. 7. Educate website administrators about the risks of deserialization vulnerabilities and the importance of timely updates. 8. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 9. Review and harden WordPress security configurations, including limiting plugin installations to trusted sources and minimizing unnecessary plugins. 10. Prepare incident response plans specifically for web application compromises involving deserialization attacks.