CVE-2025-7507 is a vulnerability identified in the elink – Embed Content plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.1.0. The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-20) related to the handling of URLs supplied via the elink shortcode. Specifically, the plugin does not restrict or sanitize URLs that authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher can embed. This flaw allows such users to supply an HTML file containing malicious redirect code. When other users access content embedding this malicious URL, they can be redirected to attacker-controlled domains without their consent. The vulnerability is classified as a Malicious Redirect, which can be leveraged to conduct phishing attacks, distribute malware, or facilitate other social engineering exploits. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.4 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and privileges at the level of a contributor (PR:L). No user interaction is required (UI:N), and the scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially compromised component. The impact affects integrity and availability but not confidentiality directly. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability was reserved in July 2025 and published in August 2025 by Wordfence.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the elink – Embed Content plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Contributor-level users, which may include content creators or editors, could embed malicious redirect URLs, potentially leading site visitors to harmful external domains. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data loss if users are tricked into divulging credentials or downloading malware, and disrupt service availability due to redirected traffic. Given the scope change, the impact extends beyond the compromised user account to all visitors of the affected content. Organizations in sectors with high web traffic, such as media, e-commerce, and public services, are particularly vulnerable. The lack of user interaction requirement means automated or passive exploitation is feasible once the malicious content is embedded. This could also facilitate supply chain attacks if third-party contributors are compromised. The medium CVSS score reflects a moderate but tangible threat that requires timely mitigation to prevent exploitation.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations for the presence of the elink – Embed Content plugin and identify all versions up to 1.1.0. Until an official patch is released, restrict Contributor-level and higher user permissions to trusted personnel only, and implement strict content review workflows to detect malicious URLs embedded via the elink shortcode. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious redirect patterns originating from the plugin's output. Monitor web traffic for unusual redirect behavior and conduct regular scans for unauthorized HTML content embedded in posts. Additionally, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin if it is not essential. Once a patch is available, prioritize immediate application. Educate content contributors about the risks of embedding untrusted URLs and enforce URL whitelisting policies where feasible. Finally, implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict allowed redirect destinations and reduce the risk of malicious redirects affecting end users.