Overview
A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-13542, has been discovered in the DesignThemes LMS plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0.4. It allows unauthenticated attackers to escalate their privileges to administrator, potentially leading to complete site compromise. If you are using the DesignThemes LMS plugin, immediate action is required.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides in the dtlms_register_user_front_end function. This function lacks proper validation and authorization, specifically regarding user roles during registration. An attacker can exploit this flaw by providing the ‘administrator’ role as part of the registration process. Due to the insufficient role validation, the plugin incorrectly grants the attacker administrative privileges upon account creation. This is a direct privilege escalation vulnerability, circumventing standard WordPress user role management.
CVSS Analysis
This vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical). This high score reflects the severity of the vulnerability and the ease with which it can be exploited.
- CVSS Score: 9.8
- Vector: (Assume AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H – remote, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact)
A score this high indicates a significant risk to affected WordPress sites.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can have devastating consequences:
- Complete Website Takeover: An attacker gaining administrator access can modify content, install malicious plugins, create new administrator accounts, and completely control the website.
- Data Theft: Sensitive data, including user information, customer data, and financial details, can be stolen.
- Malware Distribution: The compromised website can be used to distribute malware to visitors.
- SEO Poisoning: Attackers can inject malicious code to redirect traffic or damage the website’s search engine ranking.
- Defacement: The website can be defaced, damaging the organization’s reputation.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The most important step is to update the DesignThemes LMS plugin to the latest version as soon as a patch is released by the developers. Check the plugin page for updates and changelogs.
In the meantime, consider the following mitigation steps only if a patch is not yet available and you absolutely must continue using the plugin (though disabling is strongly recommended):
- Disable User Registration: Temporarily disable user registration on your WordPress site. This will prevent new accounts from being created. (WordPress Settings -> General -> Membership: Untick “Anyone can register”)
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) and configure rules to block requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Look for rules specifically targeting privilege escalation attacks on registration pages.
- Monitor User Activity: Carefully monitor user activity for any signs of suspicious behavior. Pay close attention to newly created administrator accounts or unexpected changes to website settings.
- Consider Alternative Plugins: If possible, consider temporarily switching to an alternative LMS plugin while waiting for a patch.
It is crucial to note that these mitigation steps are temporary and should be replaced with the official patch as soon as it is available.
