# CVE-2025-8289: Redirection for Contact Form 7 <= 3.2.4 - Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection via PHAR Deserialization

> Unauthenticated attackers can inject PHP objects via deserialization, potentially leading to arbitrary file deletion or code execution if a POP chain exists.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Aug 2025
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wmg4-pfmh-hxh4

## What is CVE-2025-8289?

CVE-2025-8289 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in themeisle Redirection for Contact Form 7, published on 20 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The Redirection for Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to PHP Object Injection in all versions up to, and including, 3.2.4 via deserialization of untrusted input in the delete_associated_files function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject a PHP Object. This vulnerability may be exploited by unauthenticated attackers when a form is present on the site with a file upload action, and doesn't affect sites with PHP version > 8. This vulnerability also requires the 'Redirection For Contact Form 7 Extension - Create Post' extension to be installed and activated in order to be exploited. No known POP chain is present in the vulnerable software, which means this vulnerability has no impact unless another plugin or theme containing a POP chain is installed on the site. If a POP chain is present via an additional plugin or theme installed on the target system, it may allow the attacker to perform actions like delete arbitrary files, retrieve sensitive data, or execute code depending on the POP chain present. We confirmed there is a usable gadget in Contact Form 7 plugin that makes arbitrary file deletion possible when installed with this plugin. Given Contact Form 7 is a requirement of this plugin, it is likely that any site with this plugin and the 'Redirection For Contact Form 7 Extension - Create Post' extension enabled is vulnerable to arbitrary file deletion.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-8289?


## How do I fix CVE-2025-8289?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-8289 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-8289 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-8289 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-8289 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-8289 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in themeisle Redirection for Contact Form 7, published on 20 Aug 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-8289 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: themeisle Redirection for Contact Form 7. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-8289/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-8289/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-8289
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-8289
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-8289

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-8289/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.