CVE-2025-14975: WordPress Login Customizer Auth Bypass

CVE-2025-14975 Overview

The Custom Login Page Customizer WordPress plugin before version 2.5.4 contains a critical authentication bypass vulnerability due to an improper password reset process. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to reset the password of any user account, including administrators, by knowing only the target's username. Successful exploitation grants attackers unauthorized access to WordPress accounts, potentially leading to complete site compromise.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can reset and hijack any WordPress user account, including administrators, enabling full site takeover with minimal effort.

Affected Products

• Custom Login Page Customizer WordPress plugin versions prior to 2.5.4
• WordPress installations using vulnerable plugin versions
• Sites with publicly exposed WordPress usernames

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-29 - CVE-2025-14975 published to NVD
• 2026-01-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14975

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management), manifesting as a broken authentication mechanism in the password reset workflow. The plugin fails to implement proper security controls during the password reset process, allowing unauthenticated users to initiate and complete password resets for arbitrary accounts.

The attack can be executed remotely over the network, though it requires some level of complexity to successfully exploit. No user interaction or special privileges are needed by the attacker—only knowledge of a valid username on the target WordPress installation.

When successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the affected WordPress installation, as attackers can gain administrative access and perform any action on the site.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in the plugin's inadequate implementation of password reset verification. The Custom Login Page Customizer plugin fails to properly validate password reset requests, missing critical security checks such as:

• Proper token generation and validation for reset requests
• Rate limiting on password reset attempts
• Secure verification of the requesting user's identity

This improper privilege management allows unauthenticated users to bypass the intended authentication workflow and directly reset passwords for accounts they do not own.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and targets the plugin's password reset functionality. An attacker would typically follow these steps:

1. Identify a target WordPress site using the Custom Login Page Customizer plugin
2. Enumerate or guess valid usernames on the site (WordPress usernames are often exposed through author archives or the REST API)
3. Submit crafted password reset requests exploiting the flawed reset mechanism
4. Complete the password reset process without proper authorization
5. Gain access to the targeted account using the newly set password

The attack requires no authentication and can be performed entirely remotely. For technical implementation details, see the WPScan Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14975

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected password reset emails received by WordPress users
• Multiple failed or successful login attempts from unknown IP addresses
• Unauthorized changes to user account passwords, especially administrator accounts
• Anomalous HTTP requests targeting the plugin's password reset endpoints

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress authentication logs for unusual password reset activity patterns
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious reset requests
• Review server access logs for repeated requests to password reset endpoints from single sources
• Enable login notifications to alert users of password changes or new login sessions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerting for multiple password reset requests within short time windows
• Monitor for new administrator accounts or privilege escalation events
• Implement real-time log analysis for authentication-related events
• Track plugin usage and ensure vulnerability scanning includes WordPress plugins

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14975

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Custom Login Page Customizer plugin to version 2.5.4 or later immediately
• Review all user accounts for unauthorized password changes
• Force password resets for all administrator accounts as a precaution
• Audit recent login activity for signs of unauthorized access

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been addressed in Custom Login Page Customizer version 2.5.4. Site administrators should update to this version or later through the WordPress plugin update mechanism. For additional details, refer to the WPScan Vulnerability Report.

Workarounds

• Temporarily disable the Custom Login Page Customizer plugin until an update can be applied
• Implement additional authentication controls such as two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts
• Use a web application firewall to block suspicious password reset requests
• Restrict access to WordPress admin endpoints using IP allowlisting where feasible

# Configuration example
# Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI until patched
wp plugin deactivate custom-login-page-customizer

# Force password reset for all administrator accounts
wp user list --role=administrator --field=user_login | xargs -I {} wp user reset-password {}

# Enable maintenance mode while updating
wp maintenance-mode activate
wp plugin update custom-login-page-customizer
wp maintenance-mode deactivate