CVE-2025-54731 Overview
CVE-2025-54731 is a PHP Object Injection vulnerability in the emarket-design YouTube Showcase WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 3.5.1. It is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code and stems from unsafe deserialization of attacker-controlled input. A successful attack can lead to arbitrary code execution, data tampering, or denial of service when a suitable POP (Property-Oriented Programming) gadget chain is present in the WordPress environment.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network attackers can trigger object injection in the YouTube Showcase plugin, potentially leading to full compromise of the underlying WordPress site.
Affected Products
- emarket-design YouTube Showcase WordPress plugin
- All versions from n/a through <= 3.5.1
- WordPress sites with the plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-08-28 - CVE-2025-54731 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-54731
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the YouTube Showcase plugin's handling of serialized PHP data. The plugin passes attacker-influenced input to a deserialization routine such as unserialize() without sufficient validation. PHP unserialization invokes magic methods like __wakeup(), __destruct(), and __toString() on reconstructed objects. When chained with classes available in WordPress core, other plugins, or themes, this primitive can yield arbitrary code execution or sensitive file operations.
The issue is network-reachable and requires no authentication or user interaction. Attack complexity is rated high because exploitation depends on the presence of a usable gadget chain within the target site's loaded code base.
Root Cause
The root cause is unsafe deserialization of untrusted data ([CWE-94] / Object Injection). The plugin accepts serialized PHP payloads from a request parameter or stored value and reconstructs objects without enforcing an allowlist of safe classes. Because PHP's deserializer transparently triggers magic methods, any reachable class with side-effecting methods can be weaponized by an attacker who controls the serialized stream.
Attack Vector
An unauthenticated remote attacker submits a crafted HTTP request containing a malicious serialized PHP object to a vulnerable endpoint exposed by YouTube Showcase. When the plugin deserializes the payload, the resulting object's lifecycle methods execute attacker-defined logic. Depending on the gadget chain, this can result in arbitrary file write, SQL execution, or remote code execution within the web server context.
No public proof-of-concept code is currently linked from the advisory. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54731
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to YouTube Showcase plugin endpoints containing serialized PHP markers such as O:, a:, or s: in parameters or cookies.
- Unexpected PHP files written under wp-content/uploads/ or modifications to plugin and theme files.
- New or modified WordPress administrator accounts and unexplained outbound connections from the web server.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server and WAF logs for serialized object patterns targeting youtube-showcase URLs and POST bodies.
- Monitor PHP error logs for unserialize warnings, class-not-found errors, or unexpected __wakeup/__destruct traces.
- Run integrity checks against WordPress core, plugin, and theme directories to surface tampered files.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WordPress, PHP-FPM, and web server logs into a centralized SIEM or data lake for correlation.
- Alert on anomalous process execution from the web server user, including spawned shells or php invoking outbound network calls.
- Track plugin inventory and version drift to confirm vulnerable installations are patched across all sites.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54731
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites running YouTube Showcase version 3.5.1 or earlier and prioritize them for remediation.
- Update the plugin to the latest fixed release published by emarket-design once available via the WordPress plugin repository.
- If no patched version is available, deactivate and remove the plugin until a fix is released.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, refer to the Patchstack advisory for YouTube Showcase for the latest fixed version and vendor guidance. Apply the vendor-supplied update through the WordPress admin dashboard or via WP-CLI.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the YouTube Showcase plugin until a patched release is installed.
- Deploy WAF rules that block serialized PHP object patterns in requests targeting plugin endpoints.
- Restrict access to the WordPress site with IP allowlisting or authentication at the reverse proxy where feasible.
# Update YouTube Showcase via WP-CLI once a patched version is released
wp plugin update youtube-showcase
# Or temporarily deactivate the plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate youtube-showcase
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
