CVE-2025-30949: 
WordPress vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-30949 is a PHP Object Injection vulnerability (Deserialization of Untrusted Data) in the "Site Chat on Telegram" WordPress plugin developed by Guru Team. It affects all versions up to and including 1.0.4, and was reported on June 5, 2025, by researcher mcdruid, with public disclosure on July 7, 2025. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (Critical) and requires no authentication to exploit (Patchstack, EUVD).

The root cause is improper deserialization of untrusted user-supplied data (CWE-502), classified under OWASP Top 10 A3: Injection. The plugin passes attacker-controlled input through PHP's unserialize() function without adequate validation, enabling PHP Object Injection (CAPEC-586). If a suitable Property-Oriented Programming (POP) chain exists within the WordPress environment or installed plugins, an unauthenticated attacker can instantiate arbitrary PHP objects and trigger magic methods (e.g., __wakeup, __destruct) to achieve code execution, SQL injection, path traversal, or denial of service (Patchstack).

Successful exploitation can result in complete compromise of the affected WordPress site, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Depending on available POP chains in the target environment, an attacker could achieve remote code execution, perform SQL injection to exfiltrate or modify database contents, traverse the file system, or cause a denial of service. Because no authentication is required, all publicly accessible WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin version are at risk of mass exploitation (Patchstack, Feedly).

No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been identified, and there is no confirmed evidence of in-the-wild exploitation at this time. The EPSS score is approximately 0.038%, reflecting a currently low but non-negligible probability of exploitation. Patchstack notes that vulnerabilities of this class (unauthenticated, CVSS 9.8) are frequently targeted in mass-exploit campaigns against WordPress sites regardless of traffic or popularity. The vulnerability is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog (Patchstack, Feedly).

1. Reconnaissance: Identify WordPress sites running the "Site Chat on Telegram" plugin version ≤ 1.0.4 using tools like WPScan, Shodan, or by checking publicly accessible plugin readme files at /wp-content/plugins/site-chat-on-telegram/readme.txt.
2. Identify deserialization entry point: Analyze the plugin's source code to locate where user-supplied input is passed to PHP's unserialize() function (e.g., via GET/POST parameters or cookies).
3. Identify POP chain: Enumerate classes available in the WordPress installation and installed plugins/themes to construct a Property-Oriented Programming (POP) chain that triggers a dangerous magic method (__wakeup, __destruct, __toString) upon deserialization.
4. Craft malicious payload: Use a tool such as PHPGGC to generate a serialized PHP object payload targeting the identified POP chain, encoding it appropriately for the injection point.
5. Deliver payload: Submit the crafted serialized payload to the vulnerable endpoint as an unauthenticated request, triggering deserialization and executing the POP chain.
6. Achieve objective: Depending on the POP chain, gain remote code execution, write a web shell, exfiltrate database credentials, or perform other malicious actions on the compromised site (Patchstack).

• Network: Unusual POST or GET requests to WordPress endpoints associated with the Site Chat on Telegram plugin (e.g., /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or plugin-specific endpoints) containing serialized PHP data patterns (e.g., strings beginning with O:, a:, s:).
• Logs: WordPress or web server access logs showing repeated unauthenticated requests to plugin endpoints with abnormally large or encoded parameter values; PHP error logs referencing unexpected class instantiation or magic method invocations.
• File System: Presence of newly created or modified PHP files in the WordPress web root or plugin directories (potential web shells); unexpected changes to wp-config.php or .htaccess.
• Process: Unusual child processes spawned by the web server process (e.g., bash, curl, wget, python) indicating command execution following deserialization.
• Database: Unexpected new WordPress admin accounts, modified user roles, or injected malicious content in the database (Patchstack).

The patched version is 1.0.6 — all users should update the "Site Chat on Telegram" plugin to version 1.0.6 or later immediately. If an immediate update is not possible, Patchstack has issued a virtual patching/mitigation rule for its subscribers to block exploitation attempts until the plugin is updated. Additional hardening measures include implementing strict input validation for deserialized objects, using allow-lists for permitted object types during deserialization, and applying network segmentation to reduce the attack surface (Patchstack).

The vulnerability was assigned and disclosed by Patchstack, which classified it as high priority and noted its potential for use in mass-exploit campaigns targeting WordPress sites. The CISA Vulnerability Bulletin for the week of July 14, 2025 included this CVE, indicating broader government-level awareness. No significant independent researcher commentary or notable media coverage beyond standard vulnerability database entries has been identified (CISA Bulletin, Patchstack).