CVE-2025-8625 is a critical vulnerability affecting the Copypress Rest API WordPress plugin, specifically versions 1.1 and 1.2. The root cause is the use of a hard-coded cryptographic key (CWE-321) for JWT signing when no secret is explicitly defined by the administrator. This design flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to forge valid JWT tokens, bypassing authentication and gaining elevated privileges. The vulnerability is exploited through the copyreap_handle_image() function, which inadequately validates file types during upload. Because the plugin does not restrict the types of files that can be fetched and saved as attachments, an attacker can upload arbitrary files, including malicious PHP scripts. Once uploaded, these scripts can be executed remotely, resulting in full remote code execution (RCE) on the web server hosting the WordPress site. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction, making it trivially exploitable over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the critical nature of this flaw, with attack vector being network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's characteristics suggest it will be highly attractive to attackers. The plugin’s fallback to a hard-coded key is a significant cryptographic weakness, violating best practices for secret management. This vulnerability highlights the risks of insecure default configurations and insufficient input validation in WordPress plugins, which are common attack vectors in web application security.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to the security of WordPress-based websites and applications. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of affected web servers, resulting in data breaches, defacement, service disruption, or use of the server as a pivot point for further attacks within the corporate network. Confidential data stored or processed by the website can be exfiltrated, and attackers may deploy ransomware or other malware. The lack of authentication and user interaction requirements means attackers can exploit this remotely and at scale, increasing the likelihood of widespread attacks. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, healthcare, and media, which often rely on WordPress for public-facing sites, are particularly vulnerable. The impact extends beyond the compromised server, potentially affecting customer trust, regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR), and causing financial and reputational damage. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in supply chain attacks if the plugin is used by third-party service providers supporting European businesses.

1. Immediately identify and inventory all WordPress installations using the Copypress Rest API plugin versions 1.1 or 1.2. 2. Remove or disable the vulnerable plugin until a patched version is available. 3. If a patch is released, apply it promptly to eliminate the hard-coded key fallback and enforce strict file type validation. 4. Configure the plugin with a unique, strong JWT secret key to prevent token forgery. 5. Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious file upload attempts and unauthorized JWT tokens. 6. Restrict file upload permissions and enforce strict MIME type and extension checks at the server and application levels. 7. Monitor logs for unusual activity related to the copyreap_handle_image() function or unexpected file uploads. 8. Conduct regular security audits of WordPress plugins and dependencies to identify insecure defaults or cryptographic weaknesses. 9. Educate administrators on the risks of using plugins with hard-coded secrets and the importance of secure configuration. 10. Consider isolating WordPress environments and applying the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of potential compromises.