CVE-2025-39503 in Hotel Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/23/2025
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in GoodLayers Goodlayers Hotel allows Object Injection. This issue affects Goodlayers Hotel: from n/a through 3.1.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-39503 represents a critical deserialization flaw in the Goodlayers Hotel plugin for WordPress, classified under CWE-502 as Deserialization of Untrusted Data. This vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious objects during the deserialization process, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete system compromise. The issue exists within the Goodlayers Hotel plugin and affects versions ranging from the initial release through 3.1.4, indicating a prolonged period during which the flaw remained unaddressed. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's deserialization routines, allowing maliciously crafted data to be processed without proper security checks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes user-supplied data that undergoes deserialization without adequate security measures. Attackers can craft specially formatted payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, trigger unintended object instantiation and execution of malicious code. This type of attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can bypass traditional security controls and directly manipulate the application's object model. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute code on the target system. The deserialization process in this context likely involves PHP's unserialize() function or similar mechanisms that reconstruct objects from serialized data streams, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious objects.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-39503 extends beyond simple data corruption or denial of service, potentially enabling full system compromise and persistent access for attackers. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain administrative privileges within the WordPress environment, allowing them to modify or delete content, steal sensitive data, or establish backdoors for continued access. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the hotel management system, potentially compromising guest information, reservation data, and financial records stored within the plugin's database structures. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations, particularly in environments handling sensitive customer information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WordPress plugins often have elevated privileges and direct database access, making successful exploitation highly impactful.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-39503 must prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the deserialization flaw, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all vulnerable components are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls with rules designed to detect and block suspicious deserialization patterns, restricting file upload capabilities, and enforcing strict input validation at all entry points. Security monitoring should focus on identifying unusual deserialization activities and unauthorized modifications to plugin files. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege access controls can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include thorough security audits of all installed plugins and themes to identify additional vulnerabilities, with particular attention to third-party components that may exhibit similar deserialization weaknesses. Regular security assessments and penetration testing help ensure that similar vulnerabilities are identified and addressed proactively across the entire application stack.