CVE-2025-7689 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Hydra Booking plugin for WordPress, specifically versions 1.1.0 through 1.1.18. The vulnerability arises from a missing authorization check in the tfhb_reset_password_callback() function, which handles password reset operations. This flaw allows any authenticated user with at least Subscriber-level privileges to reset the password of an Administrator account without proper permission verification. Consequently, an attacker can escalate their privileges from a low-level user to full administrative control over the WordPress site. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the application fails to enforce access control on a sensitive operation. The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.8, reflecting a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and no user interaction required. Exploitation would allow complete takeover of the affected WordPress site, enabling attackers to manipulate content, install malicious plugins, steal sensitive data, or disrupt services. No known public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a critical risk for sites using this plugin. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the urgency for site administrators to apply updates once released or implement temporary mitigations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the Hydra Booking plugin for appointment scheduling and e-commerce integrations via WooCommerce. Successful exploitation can lead to full site compromise, resulting in data breaches involving personal customer information, disruption of business operations, and potential financial losses. Organizations in sectors such as healthcare, legal, education, and professional services that use appointment booking systems are particularly vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of the data handled. Additionally, compromised sites can be leveraged to distribute malware or conduct phishing campaigns targeting European users, amplifying the threat. The GDPR framework imposes strict data protection requirements, and breaches caused by this vulnerability could lead to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The ease of exploitation from a low-privilege user account increases the likelihood of insider threats or exploitation of compromised subscriber accounts.

Immediate mitigation steps include: 1) Audit user roles and remove unnecessary Subscriber or low-privilege accounts to reduce the attack surface. 2) Restrict access to the WordPress admin area and plugin functionalities using IP whitelisting or VPNs where feasible. 3) Monitor logs for unusual password reset activities or privilege escalations. 4) Temporarily disable or deactivate the Hydra Booking plugin until an official patch is released. 5) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the tfhb_reset_password_callback() endpoint. 6) Educate administrators and users about the risk and encourage strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication to limit account compromise. 7) Once a patch is available, promptly update the plugin to the fixed version. 8) Consider isolating critical WordPress instances or using containerization to limit the blast radius of potential compromises.