CVE-2025-7843 is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability identified in the Auto Save Remote Images (Drafts) WordPress plugin developed by fernandiez. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0.9. The flaw resides in the fetch_images() function, which is responsible for retrieving remote images and saving them locally. Due to insufficient validation of URLs, authenticated users with Contributor-level privileges or higher can exploit this vulnerability to make arbitrary HTTP requests from the web server hosting the WordPress site. This can allow attackers to interact with internal network services that are otherwise inaccessible externally, potentially leading to unauthorized information disclosure or modification. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.4, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, requiring privileges (Contributor or higher) but no user interaction. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. While no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the common use of this plugin and the potential for lateral movement within internal networks. The absence of available patches at the time of reporting increases the urgency for mitigation. SSRF vulnerabilities like this are particularly dangerous because they can bypass perimeter defenses and access sensitive internal services such as metadata APIs, internal databases, or administrative interfaces that are not exposed externally.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized internal network reconnaissance and data leakage, especially in environments where WordPress is used extensively for content management and the Auto Save Remote Images (Drafts) plugin is installed. Attackers exploiting this SSRF flaw could access internal services, potentially extracting sensitive business information or modifying internal data, which may result in operational disruption or compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. The requirement for Contributor-level access means that attackers need to compromise or create accounts with some privileges, which is feasible in many collaborative environments. This threat is particularly concerning for organizations with complex internal networks and critical internal services that rely on network segmentation for security. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a stepping stone for further attacks, including privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The medium CVSS score reflects moderate risk, but the real-world impact could be higher depending on the internal network architecture and the sensitivity of accessible services.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Auto Save Remote Images (Drafts) plugin and verify its version. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin to eliminate the attack surface. Implement strict access controls to limit Contributor-level privileges only to trusted users and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to reduce the risk of account compromise. Network segmentation should be reviewed and enforced to ensure that WordPress servers cannot access sensitive internal services unnecessarily. Web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious SSRF patterns, such as unexpected internal IP address requests originating from the plugin's functionality. Monitoring and logging of outbound HTTP requests from the WordPress server should be enhanced to detect anomalous activity indicative of SSRF exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should prepare to apply patches promptly once they become available and consider engaging in threat hunting activities to detect any signs of exploitation.