CVE-2025-0954 Overview
CVE-2025-0954 affects the WP Online Contract plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 5.1.4. The plugin exposes the json_import() and json_export() functions without capability checks, classified under [CWE-862] Missing Authorization. Unauthenticated attackers can invoke these functions over the network to import arbitrary plugin settings or export existing configuration. The flaw does not require authentication, user interaction, or elevated privileges to trigger. Wordfence tracks this issue under advisory identifier 70f464ca-ff6c-4c2e-8b56-bf5e4bc6bd1f.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can import malicious plugin settings and exfiltrate existing contract configuration, altering site behavior without any credentials.
Affected Products
- WP Online Contract plugin for WordPress, all versions through 5.1.4
- WordPress sites with the plugin installed and activated
- Distributions sourced from the CodeCanyon marketplace listing
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-05 - CVE-2025-0954 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-0954
Vulnerability Analysis
The WP Online Contract plugin registers the json_import() and json_export() handlers to manage plugin settings serialized as JSON. Both handlers are reachable through WordPress request routing but omit calls to current_user_can() or equivalent capability enforcement. Any unauthenticated HTTP client can therefore invoke them directly.
On the export path, an attacker retrieves the plugin's stored configuration, which may include contract templates, integration parameters, and workflow settings. On the import path, an attacker submits a crafted JSON payload that replaces those stored settings. This lets attackers modify contract text, redirect submissions, and tamper with signing workflows presented to legitimate site users.
The issue affects confidentiality and integrity of plugin configuration but does not directly grant code execution or persistent WordPress account access. Impact escalates when the imported settings are later rendered or processed by other privileged code paths on the site.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing authorization on state-changing and state-reading administrative functions. The plugin trusts request reachability as an implicit permission signal rather than validating the caller with current_user_can('manage_options') and a matching nonce. This pattern maps directly to [CWE-862] Missing Authorization.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is remote and unauthenticated. An attacker sends an HTTP request to the WordPress endpoint that dispatches json_import() or json_export() on a vulnerable site. No user interaction is required, and the attack completes in a single request. Details of the exact request routing are documented in the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.
No public proof-of-concept exploit code is currently listed for this CVE.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-0954
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected changes to WP Online Contract settings, templates, or integration values within wp_options or plugin-specific tables
- HTTP requests from unauthenticated sources targeting plugin action handlers referencing json_import or json_export
- Outbound responses containing serialized JSON plugin configuration to non-administrator IP addresses
Detection Strategies
- Review web server access logs for POST or GET requests to WordPress admin-ajax or plugin action endpoints referencing the affected functions from unauthenticated sessions
- Compare current plugin settings against a known-good baseline to identify unauthorized imports
- Enable WordPress audit logging to record changes to plugin options and correlate with source IP
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on anomalous request patterns targeting the WP Online Contract plugin from IPs that never authenticate
- Monitor for spikes in outbound response sizes on plugin endpoints that could indicate configuration export
- Track file and database changes to plugin configuration outside scheduled maintenance windows
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-0954
Immediate Actions Required
- Update WP Online Contract to a version later than 5.1.4 once the vendor publishes a fix
- If no fixed version is available, deactivate and remove the plugin until a patch is released
- Rotate any secrets, API keys, or integration credentials stored in the plugin configuration
- Re-import a verified clean configuration to overwrite any attacker-supplied settings
Patch Information
At the time of NVD publication, no fixed version is referenced in the advisory. Site administrators should monitor the CodeCanyon Product Overview and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for release notes covering the missing capability check on json_import() and json_export().
Workarounds
- Block unauthenticated access to WordPress admin-ajax and plugin action endpoints at the web application firewall
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ and plugin-specific routes to known administrator IP ranges
- Disable the plugin on internet-exposed sites until the vendor issues a patched release
# Example WAF rule concept blocking unauthenticated calls to the affected actions
# Adjust action names to match the plugin's registered handlers in your environment
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@rx /wp-admin/admin-ajax\.php" \
"chain,deny,status:403,id:1000954,msg:'Block WP Online Contract json_import/json_export'"
SecRule ARGS:action "@rx (json_import|json_export)" \
"chain"
SecRule &REQUEST_COOKIES:/wordpress_logged_in_/ "@eq 0"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
