CVE-2025-12167 Overview
CVE-2025-12167 affects the Contact Form 7 AWeber Extension plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability stems from a missing capability check on the wp_ajax_aweber_logreset AJAX endpoint. All plugin versions up to and including 0.1.42 are affected.
Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher can reset the AWeber logs. The flaw is classified under [CWE-862] Missing Authorization. Exploitation requires low privileges but no user interaction, and it can be triggered remotely over the network.
Critical Impact
Any authenticated WordPress user, including Subscribers, can invoke the log reset endpoint and destroy AWeber integration logs, eliminating forensic records of prior plugin activity.
Affected Products
- WordPress Contact Form 7 AWeber Extension plugin (integrate-contact-form-7-and-aweber)
- All versions up to and including 0.1.42
- WordPress installations with Subscriber-level or higher user registration enabled
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-08 - CVE-2025-12167 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-12167
Vulnerability Analysis
The Contact Form 7 AWeber Extension plugin registers an AJAX action handler for aweber_logreset accessible through the standard WordPress wp_ajax_ hook. This handler resets plugin log data but does not verify that the requesting user holds the necessary administrative capability.
Because the endpoint is registered via wp_ajax_ and not wp_ajax_nopriv_, WordPress restricts access to authenticated users. However, WordPress does not enforce role-based checks on its own. The plugin must call current_user_can() or a similar capability gate. This check is absent, allowing any logged-in user to trigger the reset.
The impact is limited to integrity of logging data. Confidentiality and availability of the WordPress site remain unaffected. Attackers can, however, use the log reset to erase evidence of prior malicious activity performed through the AWeber integration.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing authorization control [CWE-862] on the wp_ajax_aweber_logreset handler. The developer omitted a capability check such as current_user_can('manage_options') and did not validate a nonce restricted to privileged users.
Attack Vector
An attacker registers or authenticates as a Subscriber on a target WordPress site. The attacker then sends a POST request to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with the action parameter set to aweber_logreset. WordPress dispatches the request to the vulnerable handler, which clears the AWeber log without further checks.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical details.
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Stop Identity AttacksDetection Methods for CVE-2025-12167
Indicators of Compromise
- POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php containing action=aweber_logreset from non-administrator sessions
- Unexpected empty or truncated AWeber plugin log files or database entries
- WordPress access logs showing admin-ajax.php activity originating from Subscriber accounts
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for admin-ajax.php requests referencing the aweber_logreset action.
- Correlate the authenticated session cookie against user roles to identify low-privilege users invoking administrative endpoints.
- Alert on any AWeber log truncation events that do not coincide with legitimate administrator activity.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WordPress and web server logs to a centralized analytics platform for behavioral analysis of AJAX endpoint usage.
- Monitor plugin file integrity and version state to detect unpatched instances of integrate-contact-form-7-and-aweber.
- Track anomalous account creation or Subscriber logins on sites with open registration enabled.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-12167
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Contact Form 7 AWeber Extension plugin to a version later than 0.1.42 as soon as the vendor releases a patched build.
- Audit existing user accounts and remove unnecessary Subscriber-level accounts, particularly on sites with self-registration.
- Review AWeber log integrity and correlate with recent authenticated activity to confirm no prior tampering occurred.
Patch Information
Refer to the WordPress Plugin Change Log for the specific code change addressing the missing capability check. The fix adds proper authorization enforcement on the wp_ajax_aweber_logreset handler.
Workarounds
- Disable the plugin until an updated version can be installed if the AWeber integration is not business-critical.
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php requests carrying the aweber_logreset action at the web application firewall (WAF) layer.
- Disable open WordPress user registration under Settings > General to eliminate anonymous Subscriber account creation.
# Example WAF rule pattern to block the vulnerable action
# ModSecurity-style pseudo-rule
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@endsWith /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" \
"chain,deny,status:403,id:1012167,msg:'Block CVE-2025-12167 aweber_logreset'"
SecRule ARGS:action "@streq aweber_logreset"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
