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. This vulnerability arises from unsafe deserialization of untrusted data within the verify_field_val() function, leading to PHP Object Injection (CWE-502). Specifically, all versions up to and including 1.2.3 are affected. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this flaw remotely without any user interaction or privileges. The vulnerability is exacerbated by the presence of a Property Oriented Programming (POP) chain in the Contact Form 7 plugin, which is commonly used alongside the vulnerable plugin. This POP chain enables attackers to leverage the injected PHP object to delete arbitrary files on the server. A particularly critical consequence is the deletion of the wp-config.php file, which contains sensitive database credentials and configuration settings. Deleting this file can cause denial of service (DoS) by breaking the WordPress site or potentially enable remote code execution (RCE) if the attacker can manipulate the environment post-deletion. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with the ease of exploitation (network vector, no privileges or user interaction required). This vulnerability threatens the core security and availability of WordPress sites using these plugins, which are widely deployed for integrating CRM and form functionalities. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the critical severity and ease of exploitation make this a high-priority issue for immediate remediation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites and services relying on WordPress with the affected crmperks integration plugin and Contact Form 7 or other listed form plugins. Exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the affected web server, including unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, disruption of business operations due to site downtime, and potential lateral movement within the network if the compromised server is connected internally. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe across sectors such as e-commerce, government, education, and SMEs, the impact could be broad. Data breaches resulting from this vulnerability could also trigger regulatory penalties under GDPR due to loss of confidentiality and integrity of personal data. Additionally, the ability to cause denial of service or remote code execution can severely damage organizational reputation and trust. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could also use compromised sites as a foothold for further attacks or to distribute malware, amplifying the threat landscape for European entities.

1. Immediate update or patching: Organizations should upgrade the crmperks Integration plugin to a fixed version once released. Until then, consider disabling the plugin or removing it if not essential. 2. Restrict access: Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious serialized payloads or unusual POST requests targeting the verify_field_val() function. 3. Harden file permissions: Ensure that the wp-config.php file and other critical files have strict permissions to prevent unauthorized deletion or modification by the web server user. 4. Monitor logs: Enable detailed logging and monitor for anomalous activity related to plugin endpoints or unexpected file deletions. 5. Use security plugins: Deploy WordPress security plugins that can detect and block PHP object injection attempts and other common web attacks. 6. Isolate critical systems: Host WordPress instances in segmented network zones to limit lateral movement if compromised. 7. Backup and recovery: Maintain regular, tested backups of WordPress sites and configuration files to enable rapid restoration in case of attack. 8. Vendor communication: Engage with crmperks and Contact Form 7 developers for timely patches and security advisories. 9. Educate administrators: Train site administrators on the risks of plugin vulnerabilities and safe plugin management practices.