CVE-2025-32143: Accordion Plugin Deserialization Flaw

CVE-2025-32143 Overview

CVE-2025-32143 is a PHP Object Injection vulnerability in the PickPlugins Accordion plugin for WordPress, caused by deserialization of untrusted data [CWE-502]. The flaw affects the accordions plugin in all versions up to and including 2.3.11. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can submit crafted serialized payloads that the plugin unserializes, instantiating arbitrary PHP objects. When a suitable property-oriented programming (POP) gadget chain exists in the WordPress core, another plugin, or a theme, the attacker can escalate to arbitrary code execution, file deletion, or sensitive data disclosure on the host.

Critical Impact
Authenticated PHP Object Injection in the WordPress accordions plugin (≤ 2.3.11) enables remote code execution, data tampering, and site compromise when a usable gadget chain is present.

Affected Products

PickPlugins Accordion (accordions) WordPress plugin — all versions through 2.3.11
WordPress sites running the affected plugin with at least one authenticated low-privilege account
WordPress installations containing additional plugins or themes providing exploitable PHP POP gadget chains

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-11 - CVE-2025-32143 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-32143

Vulnerability Analysis

The PickPlugins Accordion plugin calls PHP unserialize() on data that originates from a user-controlled input channel without first validating or restricting the allowed classes. PHP deserialization rebuilds objects from a string representation and invokes magic methods such as __wakeup(), __destruct(), and __toString() during or after instantiation. An attacker who controls the serialized blob controls which classes are constructed and which properties they carry.

The vulnerability is reachable over the network by an attacker holding at least a low-privilege WordPress account, and it does not require user interaction. Successful exploitation impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress site and any data accessible to the PHP process.

Root Cause

The root cause is unsafe use of PHP deserialization on attacker-influenced input within the accordions plugin code path. Because the plugin does not enforce an allowed_classes allowlist or use a safe data format such as JSON, any class loaded in the WordPress runtime becomes a candidate for instantiation. This is the classic Object Injection pattern tracked under [CWE-502].

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker submits a request containing a serialized PHP payload to a plugin endpoint that subsequently calls unserialize(). The payload encodes an object graph that triggers a POP gadget chain when magic methods fire. Depending on the gadgets available in the installed WordPress stack, outcomes range from arbitrary file write, arbitrary file deletion, and SQL execution to full remote code execution under the web server account.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is referenced in the NVD record, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for advisory-level technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-32143

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP request bodies or query parameters containing serialized PHP markers such as O:, a:, s:, or C: directed at accordions plugin endpoints under /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or /wp-content/plugins/accordions/.
Unexpected new or modified PHP files under wp-content/uploads/, wp-content/plugins/, or theme directories following authenticated requests to the plugin.
Web server processes spawning child shells (sh, bash, cmd.exe) or outbound network connections from the PHP-FPM or Apache worker.
New WordPress administrator accounts or modified wp_options rows created by low-privilege users.

Detection Strategies

Inspect WordPress and reverse-proxy access logs for serialized payload signatures targeting plugin endpoints, particularly from accounts at Subscriber, Contributor, or Author level.
Apply a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that blocks request parameters matching PHP serialization grammar where the plugin does not legitimately require it.
Run integrity monitoring across wp-content/ to flag unauthorized file creation, modification, or deletion.
Alert on PHP processes invoking system binaries (system, exec, passthru) or writing to executable paths.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward WordPress audit logs, web server logs, and host telemetry into a centralized analytics platform and retain them long enough to investigate post-exploitation behavior.
Monitor outbound connections from web tier hosts to identify command-and-control or data exfiltration patterns following exploitation.
Track creation of WordPress users with elevated roles and changes to active plugin or theme lists.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-32143

Immediate Actions Required

Update the PickPlugins Accordion (accordions) plugin to a version released after 2.3.11 that addresses CVE-2025-32143.
If a fixed version is not yet available, deactivate and remove the plugin until a patch is published.
Audit existing WordPress accounts and revoke unused low-privilege accounts that could be abused to reach the vulnerable code path.
Rotate WordPress secrets in wp-config.php and reset administrator credentials if compromise is suspected.

Patch Information

Consult the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for the vendor-supplied fixed release. Apply the update across all WordPress sites that have the plugin installed, including staging and disaster-recovery environments.

Workarounds

Place the WordPress site behind a WAF policy that blocks PHP serialized payloads on accordions plugin endpoints.
Restrict access to wp-admin/ and authenticated AJAX endpoints by source IP where operationally feasible.
Run PHP with disable_functions configured to remove dangerous primitives such as exec, system, passthru, and shell_exec to reduce the impact of a successful gadget chain.
Enforce least privilege on the web server user so the PHP process cannot write to plugin or core directories.