CVE-2025-52740
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious objects through deserialization of untrusted data in the Boldermail WordPress plugin. Attackers could execute arbitrary code, potentially compromising the entire WordPress site. All WordPress installations using Boldermail version 2.4.0 or earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Hernan Villanueva Boldermail WordPress Plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete server compromise leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or use as a foothold for lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Remote code execution allowing website defacement, data exfiltration, or installation of backdoors and malware.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper input validation and output encoding are implemented, though deserialization vulnerabilities often bypass standard web application firewalls.
🎯 Exploit Status
PHP object injection vulnerabilities are frequently weaponized due to available exploit chains. The PatchStack reference suggests public exploit details exist.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 2.4.0
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/Wordpress/Plugin/boldermail/vulnerability/wordpress-boldermail-plugin-2-4-0-php-object-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Boldermail and check if update is available. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update exists. 5. If no update appears, manually download latest version from WordPress repository and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Boldermail Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate boldermail
Restrict Plugin Access
allUse web application firewall to block requests to Boldermail endpoints.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove the Boldermail plugin completely from the WordPress installation.
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate the WordPress server from critical internal resources.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel under Plugins → Installed Plugins for Boldermail version. If version is 2.4.0 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get boldermail --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify Boldermail version shows higher than 2.4.0 in WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to Boldermail plugin endpoints
- PHP errors related to unserialize() or unexpected object creation
- Webshell file creation in WordPress directories
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing serialized PHP objects in parameters
- Traffic to known exploit patterns for PHP object injection
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("boldermail" OR "unserialize") AND status>=400