Urgent: Local Syndication WordPress Plugin Vulnerable to SSRF Attacks (CVE-2025-12962)

Overview

A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-12962, has been discovered in the Local Syndication plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to perform Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks. Specifically, all versions of the Local Syndication plugin up to and including version 1.5a are affected. This flaw stems from the plugin’s use of wp_remote_get() instead of the more secure wp_safe_remote_get() function when handling the url parameter within the [syndicate_local] shortcode.

Technical Details

The vulnerability resides in the way the Local Syndication plugin handles user-supplied URLs within the [syndicate_local] shortcode. The insecure use of wp_remote_get() allows authenticated users, with Contributor-level access and above, to craft requests to arbitrary URLs. Unlike wp_safe_remote_get(), wp_remote_get() lacks built-in protections against requests to internal/private IP addresses (e.g., 127.0.0.1, 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x) and localhost.

The vulnerable code sections can be found in the following locations within the Local Syndication plugin version 1.5:

• local_syndication.php#L41 (Shortcode definition)
• local_syndication.php#L64 (URL retrieval using wp_remote_get)

By manipulating the url parameter, an attacker can force the WordPress server to make requests to internal services or external resources on their behalf.

CVSS Analysis

• CVE ID: CVE-2025-12962
• Severity: MEDIUM
• CVSS Score: 6.4

This CVSS score reflects the potential impact of the SSRF vulnerability, considering the need for authentication (Contributor-level access or higher) and the limited scope of the immediate impact. However, the potential for escalating the attack by accessing internal resources significantly elevates the risk.

Possible Impact

Successful exploitation of this SSRF vulnerability could lead to a range of malicious activities, including:

• Information Disclosure: Accessing sensitive information from internal services that should not be publicly accessible.
• Internal Network Scanning: Mapping the internal network to identify potential targets for further attacks.
• Service Manipulation: Modifying data or triggering actions on internal services if proper authentication is not in place.
• Bypassing Security Controls: Using the vulnerable server as a proxy to circumvent firewalls or other security measures.

The specific impact depends on the configuration of the internal network and the services exposed on it.

Mitigation and Patch Steps

Currently, there is no official patch available for this vulnerability. The following mitigation steps are recommended:

1. Disable the Plugin: The most immediate action is to disable the Local Syndication plugin until a patched version is released.
2. Monitor Network Traffic: Monitor outgoing network traffic from your WordPress server for any unusual activity, especially requests to internal IP addresses.
3. Restrict User Permissions: Limit Contributor-level access to trusted users only, minimizing the potential attack surface.
4. Implement Network Segmentation: Implement proper network segmentation to limit the impact of a successful SSRF attack on the internal network.
5. Web Application Firewall (WAF) Rules: Consider implementing WAF rules to detect and block suspicious requests containing internal IP addresses or other indicators of SSRF attempts.

Check the WordPress plugin repository and the plugin developer’s website for updates and patches regularly.

References

• Wordfence Threat Intelligence Report
• Local Syndication Plugin Code (Line 41)
• Local Syndication Plugin Code (Line 64)