CVE-2025-8105 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Soledad WordPress theme developed by pencidesign. The vulnerability stems from improper control over the generation of code, classified under CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code, commonly known as code injection). Specifically, the issue allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary WordPress shortcodes due to insufficient validation before invoking the do_shortcode function. This function processes shortcodes in WordPress, which can trigger various actions or embed dynamic content. Because the theme fails to properly validate input before executing shortcodes, attackers can craft malicious requests that cause arbitrary shortcode execution without requiring authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Soledad theme up to and including version 8.6.7. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.3, indicating a high severity level, with attack vector being network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction needed (UI:N), and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:L/I:L/A:L). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and the broad impact make this a significant threat. The lack of available patches at the time of publication further increases risk for users of the theme. Given that WordPress powers a substantial portion of websites globally, and Soledad is a popular premium theme, the vulnerability presents a critical risk for website compromise, data leakage, defacement, or further pivoting attacks through compromised sites.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-8105 can be substantial. Many businesses, media outlets, and e-commerce platforms in Europe rely on WordPress and popular themes like Soledad for their web presence. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized content injection, data theft, or website defacement, damaging brand reputation and customer trust. Additionally, compromised websites can be leveraged to distribute malware, conduct phishing campaigns, or serve as entry points for broader network intrusions. This is particularly concerning for organizations subject to GDPR and other stringent data protection regulations, as breaches involving personal data could result in significant fines and legal consequences. The vulnerability’s unauthenticated nature means attackers can exploit it remotely without credentials, increasing the attack surface. Furthermore, the potential for availability impact could disrupt online services, affecting business continuity. Given the interconnected nature of European digital infrastructure, a successful attack could have cascading effects on supply chains and partner networks.

Immediate mitigation steps include: 1) Updating the Soledad theme to a patched version once available from the vendor. Until then, consider disabling or removing the theme if feasible. 2) Implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious shortcode execution patterns or requests targeting the vulnerable functionality. 3) Restricting access to WordPress administrative and theme editing interfaces via IP whitelisting or VPN to reduce exposure. 4) Conducting thorough audits of WordPress installations to identify unauthorized shortcode usage or injected content. 5) Employing security plugins that can monitor and alert on unusual shortcode activity or file changes. 6) Educating site administrators on the risks of installing untrusted plugins or themes and enforcing strict update policies. 7) Regularly backing up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. 8) Monitoring network traffic and logs for indicators of exploitation attempts. These measures, combined with prompt patching, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.