CVE-2025-62979 is a vulnerability identified in the ACF to REST API plugin developed by airesvsg, affecting all versions up to and including 3.3.4. The vulnerability allows an attacker to retrieve embedded sensitive information that is unintentionally inserted into the data sent via the REST API endpoints. This occurs because the plugin fails to adequately filter or sanitize sensitive fields when responding to API requests, leading to leakage of confidential data. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely without requiring authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to the confidentiality impact without affecting integrity or availability. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity and no privileges required. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the exposure of sensitive data can lead to information disclosure risks, potentially aiding further targeted attacks or data privacy violations. The plugin is commonly used in WordPress environments to expose Advanced Custom Fields data through REST API, making websites that rely on this integration vulnerable if they have not updated or applied mitigations.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-62979 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information through the REST API. This can compromise confidentiality, potentially exposing personal data, credentials, or business-critical information depending on what fields are embedded in the API responses. Such data leakage can lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR, resulting in legal and financial penalties. Additionally, exposed sensitive data could facilitate further attacks such as phishing, social engineering, or privilege escalation. The vulnerability does not impact system integrity or availability, so direct disruption or data manipulation is unlikely. However, the reputational damage and trust erosion from data exposure incidents can be significant. Organizations with public-facing WordPress sites using the vulnerable plugin are at higher risk, especially those handling sensitive customer or internal data via custom fields. The lack of authentication requirements increases the attack surface, making it easier for attackers to exploit this vulnerability remotely.

To mitigate CVE-2025-62979, organizations should first verify if they are using the ACF to REST API plugin version 3.3.4 or earlier. Immediate steps include: 1) Monitoring official vendor channels for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and applying them promptly once available. 2) If patches are not yet released, implement temporary workarounds such as disabling the REST API endpoints that expose sensitive fields or restricting access to these endpoints via IP whitelisting or authentication mechanisms. 3) Review and audit the custom fields exposed through the REST API to identify and remove or mask sensitive data that should not be publicly accessible. 4) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious API requests that attempt to access sensitive data. 5) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on API endpoints to detect unintended data exposure. 6) Educate development teams on secure API design and data handling practices to prevent similar issues in the future. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on the plugin-specific context and the nature of the vulnerability.