Overview
CVE-2025-66099 describes a missing authorization vulnerability (Broken Access Control) affecting the Chat Help WordPress plugin. This flaw allows attackers to potentially bypass intended access restrictions and perform actions they should not be authorized to, leading to unauthorized data access or modification. The vulnerability affects versions of the Chat Help plugin from n/a through version 3.1.3.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels within the Chat Help plugin. Specifically, the plugin fails to adequately verify user permissions before granting access to certain functionalities or data. This could involve, for instance, allowing unauthorized users to view chat logs, modify settings related to the chat functionality, or even escalate their privileges within the WordPress site.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, the CVSS score is listed as N/A. This indicates that a formal CVSS score hasn’t been calculated or is unavailable at this time. However, given the nature of broken access control vulnerabilities, the potential impact can be significant, warranting immediate attention.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-66099 could have several severe consequences, including:
- Data Breach: Unauthorized access to chat logs, potentially containing sensitive customer or internal information.
- Privilege Escalation: Attackers could gain administrative privileges, allowing them to completely control the WordPress site.
- Website Defacement: Attackers could modify website content, harming the site’s reputation.
- Malware Injection: Attackers could inject malicious code into the website, compromising visitors.
- Service Disruption: Attackers could disrupt the chat service or the entire website.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The primary mitigation step is to update the Chat Help plugin to the latest version. Versions newer than 3.1.3 should contain the necessary fix to address this vulnerability. To update:
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to “Plugins” -> “Installed Plugins”.
- Locate the “Chat Help” plugin.
- If an update is available, click the “Update Now” link.
If an update is not yet available, consider temporarily disabling the Chat Help plugin until a patched version is released. Monitor the Patchstack vulnerability database for updates and further information.
