CVE-2025-7697: Google Sheets Integration Plugin RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-7697 Overview

CVE-2025-7697 is a critical PHP Object Injection vulnerability affecting the Integration for Google Sheets and Contact Form 7, WPForms, Elementor, Ninja Forms plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.1.1 and allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious PHP objects through the verify_field_val() function via deserialization of untrusted input.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can achieve remote code execution or cause denial of service by exploiting this PHP Object Injection vulnerability in combination with a POP chain present in the Contact Form 7 plugin, potentially deleting critical files including wp-config.php.

Affected Products

• Integration for Google Sheets and Contact Form 7, WPForms, Elementor, Ninja Forms plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 1.1.1
• WordPress sites using Contact Form 7 alongside the vulnerable plugin (increases exploitation impact)
• WordPress installations with default file permissions allowing deletion operations

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-19 - CVE-2025-7697 published to NVD
• 2025-07-22 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-7697

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data). The flaw resides in the verify_field_val() function within the plugin's core file integration-for-contact-form-7-and-google-sheets.php. When processing form submissions, the function deserializes user-supplied input without proper validation or sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary PHP objects.

The critical factor amplifying this vulnerability is the presence of a Property-Oriented Programming (POP) chain in the Contact Form 7 plugin, which is commonly installed alongside this integration plugin. When both plugins are present, an attacker can leverage the POP chain to achieve arbitrary file deletion capabilities. Deleting the wp-config.php file triggers WordPress's installation wizard, allowing attackers to reconfigure the site with their own database credentials and achieve full remote code execution.

Root Cause

The root cause is the unsafe deserialization of user-controlled input within the verify_field_val() function. The function accepts serialized PHP data from form submissions and passes it directly to PHP's unserialize() function without implementing proper input validation, type checking, or allowlist restrictions for acceptable object classes.

Attack Vector

This vulnerability is exploitable over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft a malicious serialized PHP object and submit it through a form handled by the vulnerable plugin. The attack workflow involves:

1. Identifying a WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin version
2. Crafting a serialized PHP payload containing malicious object properties
3. Submitting the payload through a form endpoint processed by verify_field_val()
4. If Contact Form 7 is present, leveraging its POP chain to delete arbitrary files
5. Deleting wp-config.php to trigger the WordPress installation wizard or directly achieving code execution

The vulnerability is exploited through the deserialization of untrusted input in the verify_field_val() function located at line 923 of the plugin code. When combined with available POP chains in commonly co-installed plugins like Contact Form 7, attackers can chain object instantiation to achieve file deletion or remote code execution. Technical details and the security fix can be reviewed in the WordPress changeset.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-7697

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected modifications or deletion of wp-config.php or other critical WordPress files
• Unusual POST requests to form submission endpoints with serialized PHP data patterns (e.g., O: prefix indicating objects)
• WordPress installation wizard appearing unexpectedly on established sites
• Web server logs showing unusual serialized payloads in form parameters
• New administrator accounts or unauthorized database configuration changes

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application firewall (WAF) logs for serialized PHP object patterns in POST data
• Implement file integrity monitoring on critical WordPress files including wp-config.php, .htaccess, and core plugin files
• Review access logs for unusual patterns targeting form submission endpoints
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity to detect and block exploitation attempts and post-exploitation activities

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure real-time alerting for any modifications to WordPress configuration files
• Establish baseline network traffic patterns and alert on anomalous POST request sizes to form endpoints
• Enable verbose logging on WordPress form plugins to capture submission data for forensic analysis
• Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) monitoring for PHP process spawning or file system operations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-7697

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Integration for Google Sheets and Contact Form 7, WPForms, Elementor, Ninja Forms plugin to the latest patched version immediately
• Audit WordPress installations to identify all sites running the vulnerable plugin version
• Review server logs for evidence of exploitation attempts
• Verify integrity of wp-config.php and other critical WordPress files
• Consider temporarily disabling the plugin until the update can be applied

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been addressed in versions after 1.1.1. The fix is available through the WordPress plugin repository and can be applied via the WordPress admin dashboard or through direct download. The specific changes implemented to resolve this vulnerability can be reviewed in changeset 3329005. Additional vulnerability details are available from Wordfence Threat Intelligence.

Workarounds

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block requests containing serialized PHP object patterns in POST data
• Restrict file system permissions to prevent the web server user from deleting critical configuration files
• Use WordPress security plugins that can detect and block PHP Object Injection attempts
• Consider network segmentation to limit exposure of WordPress administration interfaces

# Configuration example - Restrict wp-config.php permissions
chmod 400 /var/www/html/wp-config.php
chown root:root /var/www/html/wp-config.php

# Apache mod_security rule to block serialized PHP objects
SecRule REQUEST_BODY "@rx O:\d+:\"" "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Blocked PHP Object Injection attempt'"