CVE-2025-23528 is classified as a high-severity vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.8. This vulnerability allows for privilege escalation in the Mosterd3d DD Roles plugin, affecting versions up to 4.1. Given its nature, it poses a serious risk to organizations utilizing this plugin as attackers may leverage this flaw to gain elevated access.
The risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive data and potential system compromise. As the vulnerability was published on January 16, 2025, and is categorized under CWE-266, organizations should address this issue promptly.
Currently, there is no known exploit or public proof of concept available for this vulnerability. However, its high CVSS score indicates that it is critical for organizations to take preventative measures.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-23528.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows for incorrect privilege assignment in the Mosterd3d DD Roles plugin. The vulnerability affects DD Roles from an unspecified version up to and including 4.1. The attack vector is network-based, and the attack complexity is low, requiring only low privileges to exploit.
There is no user interaction required for exploitation, and the impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are rated as high. The CVSS vector string for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from an incorrect implementation of privilege assignments within the Mosterd3d DD Roles plugin. This flaw allows attackers to elevate their privileges beyond what was originally intended.
Given that the attack vector is network-based, attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely. The complexity of the attack is rated low, which means that even attackers with minimal skill can potentially leverage this vulnerability with relative ease.
No user interaction is required for exploitation, which increases the risk of this vulnerability being successfully exploited. The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all rated high, indicating a severe threat to affected systems.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment of this vulnerability can lead to significant risks for organizations, particularly those using the Mosterd3d DD Roles plugin. Attackers may exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, leading to data breaches and potential regulatory fines.
The urgency to address this vulnerability is underscored by its high CVSS score of 8.8. Organizations should assess their exposure to this risk and take immediate actions to patch affected systems.
With the potential for a significant blast radius, it is crucial for organizations to prioritize remediation efforts and implement robust security measures to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects all versions of the Mosterd3d DD Roles plugin prior to and including version 4.1.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately by updating to the latest version of the Mosterd3d DD Roles plugin. In the absence of an immediate patch, organizations should consider implementing workarounds such as disabling the affected plugin until a patch is available.
Additionally, security teams should conduct a comprehensive review of user role assignments and permissions within their WordPress installations to minimize the risk of privilege escalation.
Organizations can further enhance their security posture by implementing configuration hardening techniques and network controls to limit access to the WordPress admin interface.
For more comprehensive security measures, organizations are encouraged to engage in penetration testing to validate the effectiveness of their remediation efforts.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual administrative access patterns and role assignment changes. Behavioral anomalies, such as unexpected changes in user privileges, should also be closely observed.
Network signatures that indicate unauthorized access attempts should be established, and any changes to the system configuration should be logged and reviewed regularly.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-23528 highlights the ongoing trend of privilege escalation vulnerabilities in widely-used plugins. Organizations must remain vigilant in monitoring and patching third-party components that may introduce security risks.
Security teams should review their vulnerability management programs to ensure they include regular assessments of all plugins and components within their applications. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining an up-to-date inventory of software and conducting thorough security evaluations.
For further guidance on managing vulnerabilities, organizations can refer to our comprehensive resources, including vulnerability management program design and penetration testing methodology to strengthen their defenses against emerging threats.
By proactively addressing vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-23528, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture and reduce the risk of exploitation.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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