CVE-2025-7696 is a critical vulnerability affecting the WordPress plugin 'Integration for Pipedrive and Contact Form 7, WPForms, Elementor, Ninja Forms' developed by crmperks. The vulnerability arises from unsafe deserialization of untrusted data within the verify_field_val() function, allowing unauthenticated attackers to perform PHP Object Injection (CWE-502). This flaw exists in all versions up to and including 1.2.3. The attack vector requires no authentication or user interaction, making exploitation feasible remotely over the network. The vulnerability is exacerbated by the presence of a Property Oriented Programming (POP) chain in the widely used Contact Form 7 plugin, which is likely deployed alongside this integration plugin. This POP chain enables attackers to leverage the injected PHP object to delete arbitrary files on the server. A particularly critical impact is the deletion of the wp-config.php file, which contains sensitive database credentials and configuration data. Deleting this file can cause denial of service (DoS) by breaking the WordPress installation or, in some scenarios, enable remote code execution (RCE) if attackers can manipulate the environment post-deletion. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 9.8, reflecting the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with the ease of exploitation (network vector, no privileges or user interaction required). No patches were listed at the time of publication, indicating that affected users must urgently apply mitigations or updates once available. This vulnerability affects a broad range of WordPress sites using this integration plugin in combination with popular form plugins, increasing the attack surface significantly.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their WordPress-based web assets. Many European businesses and public sector entities rely on WordPress for their websites and customer engagement portals, often using popular form plugins like Contact Form 7 and Elementor. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including customer information and internal configurations, through file deletion or remote code execution. The potential for denial of service could disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to data breaches or service interruptions. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means attackers can target vulnerable sites en masse, increasing the likelihood of widespread impact. Additionally, the integration with Pipedrive, a CRM platform, suggests that exploitation could indirectly affect customer relationship data if attackers gain deeper access. The critical severity and ease of exploitation make this a high-priority threat for European organizations managing WordPress environments, especially those in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government.

1. Immediate action should include disabling the vulnerable plugin 'Integration for Pipedrive and Contact Form 7, WPForms, Elementor, Ninja Forms' until a security patch is released. 2. Monitor official vendor channels and WordPress plugin repositories for updates or patches addressing CVE-2025-7696 and apply them promptly. 3. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious deserialization payloads or PHP object injection attempts targeting the verify_field_val() function. 4. Conduct thorough audits of WordPress installations to identify the presence of both the vulnerable integration plugin and Contact Form 7 to assess risk exposure. 5. Restrict file system permissions for WordPress directories to prevent unauthorized file deletions, especially protecting critical files like wp-config.php. 6. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or intrusion detection systems capable of identifying anomalous PHP object deserialization behaviors. 7. Regularly back up WordPress site files and databases to enable rapid recovery in case of successful exploitation. 8. Educate site administrators on the risks of installing unvetted plugins and encourage minimal plugin usage to reduce attack surface.