Critical Alert: weDocs WordPress Plugin Vulnerable to Unauthorized Settings Changes (CVE-2025-12505)

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Overview

CVE-2025-12505 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the weDocs plugin for WordPress, specifically versions up to and including 2.1.14. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher to modify global plugin settings without proper authorization. The flaw resides in the inadequate permission checks within the create_item_permissions_check function, enabling unauthorized access and potential misuse of plugin configurations.

Technical Details

The core issue lies in the insufficient validation of user permissions within the create_item_permissions_check function. The plugin fails to adequately verify if the user attempting to modify settings has the necessary privileges. This oversight grants users with lower-level access, such as Subscribers, the ability to bypass intended restrictions and alter plugin-wide settings. This can lead to unintended consequences and potential security risks.

The vulnerable code is located within the SettingsApi.php file. Examining the file reveals the faulty implementation of the access control mechanism. Specifically, the lack of robust permission checks on calls to this function allows unintended modification of core plugin options.

CVSS Analysis

  • Severity: MEDIUM
  • CVSS Score: 5.4

The CVSS score of 5.4 reflects the moderate impact of this vulnerability. While it requires authentication, the low privilege level needed (Subscriber) and the potential to modify global settings make it a significant concern.

Possible Impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-12505 could lead to several negative consequences:

  • Plugin Misconfiguration: Attackers can modify plugin settings, potentially disabling essential features or altering intended functionality.
  • Data Manipulation: Depending on the settings available, attackers may be able to manipulate data stored or managed by the plugin.
  • Privilege Escalation (Indirect): In some cases, misconfigured plugin settings could be leveraged to indirectly gain higher-level access or compromise other parts of the WordPress site.
  • Denial of Service (Potential): Malicious setting changes could lead to plugin instability or functionality breakdown.

Mitigation and Patch Steps

The primary mitigation step is to update the weDocs plugin to the latest version. Versions newer than 2.1.14 contain the necessary fixes to address this vulnerability. Follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
  2. Navigate to the “Plugins” section.
  3. Locate the “weDocs” plugin.
  4. If an update is available, click the “Update Now” button.
  5. If automatic updates fail, manually download the latest version from the WordPress plugin repository and install it via FTP or the WordPress plugin upload feature.

If updating is not immediately possible, consider temporarily disabling the weDocs plugin until an update can be applied. While this will disable the plugin’s functionality, it will also prevent potential exploitation of the vulnerability.

References

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