CVE-2025-9990 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the WordPress Helpdesk Integration plugin developed by smackcoders. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-98, which pertains to improper control of filenames used in include or require statements within PHP programs, commonly known as Remote File Inclusion (RFI) or Local File Inclusion (LFI). Specifically, this vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of the 'portal_type' parameter, which allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the file path included by the plugin. By exploiting this flaw, attackers can include arbitrary PHP files from the server, leading to the execution of malicious PHP code. This can result in bypassing access controls, unauthorized data disclosure, and full remote code execution if attackers can upload PHP files to the server or leverage existing files. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 5.8.10 of the plugin. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.1, indicating a high severity with network attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on September 5, 2025.

For European organizations using the WordPress Helpdesk Integration plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer support data, internal communications, and potentially other connected systems. Given the plugin’s role in managing helpdesk functions, compromise could disrupt customer service operations, damage organizational reputation, and lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR. The ability to execute arbitrary PHP code remotely could allow attackers to establish persistent backdoors, pivot within the network, or exfiltrate data. This is particularly critical for organizations in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where data confidentiality and service availability are paramount. The high attack complexity rating suggests some technical skill is required, but no authentication or user interaction is needed, increasing the risk of automated or mass exploitation attempts.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the vulnerable WordPress Helpdesk Integration plugin versions up to 5.8.10. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider the following mitigations: 1) Disable or uninstall the plugin if it is not essential to operations. 2) Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block or sanitize requests containing the 'portal_type' parameter to prevent malicious file inclusion attempts. 3) Restrict file upload capabilities and enforce strict file type validation to prevent attackers from uploading executable PHP files. 4) Harden PHP configurations by disabling dangerous functions such as 'allow_url_include' and restricting include paths. 5) Monitor web server and application logs for suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable parameter. 6) Employ intrusion detection systems to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 7) Prepare for rapid patch deployment once an official fix is available from smackcoders. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate risk reduction and proactive detection tailored to this specific vulnerability.