CVE-2025-9985 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the Featured Image from URL (FIFU) WordPress plugin developed by marceljm. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-532, which involves the insertion of sensitive information into log files. Specifically, all versions of the FIFU plugin up to and including 5.2.7 are affected. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to access publicly exposed log files that contain sensitive information. Because the logs are publicly accessible, attackers do not require any authentication or user interaction to exploit this issue. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3, reflecting a network attack vector with low complexity and no privileges or user interaction needed. The impact is limited to confidentiality, as the attacker can read sensitive data from logs but cannot modify data or disrupt availability. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been published at the time of this report. The root cause is improper handling of sensitive data within logging mechanisms, leading to exposure through publicly accessible log files. This can include information such as API keys, user data, or internal system details that should not be exposed externally. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of the FIFU plugin for managing featured images via URLs, this vulnerability poses a risk to websites that have this plugin installed and have not restricted access to their log files.

For European organizations, the exposure of sensitive information through publicly accessible logs can lead to data leakage that may compromise user privacy, intellectual property, or internal system details. This is particularly concerning for organizations subject to GDPR, as unauthorized disclosure of personal data can result in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Websites using the FIFU plugin may inadvertently expose API keys, authentication tokens, or other confidential information that could be leveraged in further attacks such as account takeover, privilege escalation, or lateral movement within networks. Although the vulnerability does not allow direct modification or disruption of services, the confidentiality breach alone can have cascading effects, especially for e-commerce, financial services, healthcare, and government websites prevalent in Europe. The ease of exploitation (no authentication or user interaction required) increases the risk of automated scanning and data harvesting by malicious actors. Organizations relying on WordPress for their public-facing websites should be aware of this vulnerability to prevent inadvertent data leaks that could undermine their cybersecurity posture and compliance obligations.

1. Immediate action should include restricting access to log files by configuring web server permissions to prevent public access. This can be done by using .htaccess rules, web server configuration directives, or placing logs outside the web root directory. 2. Update the FIFU plugin to the latest version once a patch addressing this vulnerability is released by the vendor. Monitor official channels for patch announcements. 3. Conduct an audit of existing log files to identify and securely remove any sensitive information that may have been exposed. 4. Implement logging best practices by sanitizing or redacting sensitive data before it is written to logs. 5. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to access log files. 6. Regularly review and harden WordPress site configurations, including plugin permissions and file access controls. 7. Educate site administrators about the risks of sensitive data exposure through logs and the importance of secure logging practices. 8. Monitor for unusual access patterns to log files and implement alerting mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts.