CVE-2025-1295: WordPress Templines Plugin Vulnerability

CVE-2025-1295 Overview

CVE-2025-1295 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Templines Elementor Helper Core plugin for WordPress. All versions up to and including 2.7 are affected. The flaw allows arbitrary user meta updates, enabling authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher to modify their own role to Administrator. Exploitation requires the BuddyPress plugin to be installed and active alongside the vulnerable plugin. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management].

Critical Impact
Authenticated users with low-privilege Subscriber accounts can escalate to Administrator, gaining full control over the affected WordPress site.

Affected Products

Templines Elementor Helper Core plugin for WordPress, all versions up to and including 2.7
WordPress sites with BuddyPress plugin installed and activated
WordPress installations using the Youzify integration component of the plugin

Discovery Timeline

2025-02-27 - CVE-2025-1295 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-1295

Vulnerability Analysis

The Templines Elementor Helper Core plugin exposes functionality that updates arbitrary WordPress user meta values without validating whether the requesting user is authorized to modify privileged meta fields. WordPress stores user role assignments in the wp_usermeta table under the wp_capabilities key. When code allows authenticated users to write arbitrary keys and values to user meta, an attacker can target this key to assign themselves the administrator role.

The vulnerable code path resides in the plugin's Youzify integration file (templines-helper-core/youzify/youzify.php). The handler is only registered when the BuddyPress plugin is active, which scopes the attack surface but does not reduce its impact when the precondition is met. Successful exploitation grants the attacker complete administrative control, including the ability to install plugins, modify content, create new users, and execute PHP via the theme or plugin editor.

Root Cause

The vulnerability stems from missing capability checks and missing allowlist validation on user meta keys. The plugin accepts authenticated requests that supply both the meta key and the meta value, then writes them directly to the database. There is no restriction preventing writes to security-sensitive keys such as wp_capabilities. Any user holding a Subscriber role, the lowest authenticated WordPress role, satisfies the authentication requirement.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires authentication. An attacker registers a Subscriber account on a target site that allows open registration, or compromises any existing low-privilege account. The attacker then sends a crafted request to the vulnerable endpoint with a payload that sets wp_capabilities to a value indicating the Administrator role. After the meta update completes, the attacker re-authenticates or refreshes the session and accesses the WordPress admin dashboard with full privileges.

No public proof-of-concept code is currently linked in the advisory. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-1295

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected changes to the wp_capabilities value in the wp_usermeta table for non-administrative accounts
New or recently promoted Administrator-level users with recent registration dates or Subscriber history
WordPress audit log entries showing role changes without a corresponding admin-initiated action
Outbound requests from wp-admin originating from accounts that previously held only Subscriber privileges

Detection Strategies

Query the wp_usermeta table for accounts whose wp_capabilities was modified after a recent login from a low-privilege user
Monitor HTTP request logs for POST requests to plugin endpoints under /wp-content/plugins/templines-helper-core/ that include meta_key or wp_capabilities parameters
Correlate WordPress login events for Subscriber accounts with subsequent administrative actions such as plugin installs or theme edits

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress activity logging plugins to record user role transitions and meta updates
Forward web server access logs and WordPress audit logs to a centralized log platform for retention and search
Alert on creation of any new Administrator account and on any user account whose role is elevated outside an approved change window

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-1295

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Templines Elementor Helper Core plugin to a version newer than 2.7 once the vendor releases a fix
Deactivate and remove the Templines Elementor Helper Core plugin if a patched version is not yet available
Deactivate BuddyPress on affected sites if the Templines plugin cannot be removed, since the vulnerable code path requires BuddyPress to be active
Audit all WordPress accounts and revoke unexpected Administrator privileges, then force password resets

Patch Information

At the time of NVD publication, the advisory lists all versions up to and including 2.7 as vulnerable. Site operators should consult the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis and the vendor's plugin page for the patched release version.

Workarounds

Disable open user registration in WordPress settings to limit who can obtain a Subscriber account
Restrict access to /wp-content/plugins/templines-helper-core/ paths at the web server or WAF layer until the plugin is patched
Apply a virtual patch via a WAF rule that blocks requests containing wp_capabilities in user-supplied meta key parameters

bash

# Example nginx rule to block requests targeting the vulnerable plugin path
location ~* /wp-content/plugins/templines-helper-core/ {
    if ($args ~* "wp_capabilities|meta_key=wp_capabilities") {
        return 403;
    }
    if ($request_method = POST) {
        # Require authenticated admin session at upstream; deny otherwise
        return 403;
    }
}