CVE-2025-14996: WordPress AS Password Field Plugin Flaw

CVE-2025-14996 Overview

The AS Password Field In Default Registration Form plugin for WordPress contains a critical privilege escalation vulnerability affecting all versions up to and including 2.0.0. The vulnerability stems from improper user identity validation prior to password updates, allowing unauthenticated attackers to change arbitrary user passwords—including administrator accounts—and subsequently gain unauthorized access to those accounts.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can modify any user's password including administrator accounts, leading to complete site compromise.

Affected Products

• AS Password Field In Default Registration Form plugin for WordPress versions ≤ 2.0.0
• WordPress installations using the vulnerable plugin
• Sites with user registration enabled using this plugin

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-06 - CVE CVE-2025-14996 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14996

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key, a type of broken access control flaw. The plugin fails to properly verify user identity before processing password change requests, creating a direct path for unauthorized account access.

The vulnerability allows network-based attacks with low complexity, requiring no privileges or user interaction. An attacker can target any registered user account on a vulnerable WordPress installation, with the most severe impact being the compromise of administrator accounts. Once an attacker changes an administrator's password, they gain complete control over the WordPress site, including the ability to install malicious plugins, modify content, access sensitive data, and potentially pivot to attack the underlying server.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate authorization controls within the password update functionality. The plugin processes password change requests without properly validating that the requesting user has the authority to modify the target account's credentials. This represents a fundamental authentication bypass where user-controlled parameters can be manipulated to affect accounts beyond the attacker's authorization scope.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-accessible and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious requests to the password update endpoint, specifying a target user account and a new password of their choosing. The plugin processes these requests without verifying the requester's identity or authorization level.

The attack flow typically involves:

1. Identifying a target WordPress site using the vulnerable plugin
2. Crafting a request to change a target user's password (typically an administrator)
3. Submitting the unauthorized password change request
4. Logging into the target account with the newly set password
5. Leveraging the compromised account for further malicious activities

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14996

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected password reset activity in WordPress user logs
• Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful logins from unusual IP addresses
• Unauthorized administrator account access or new administrator accounts created
• Suspicious plugin installations or theme modifications
• Unexpected changes to site content or configuration

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress authentication logs for anomalous password change patterns
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect suspicious parameter manipulation
• Review access logs for requests targeting the plugin's password update endpoints
• Enable WordPress security plugins that track user account modifications
• Set up alerts for administrator account access from new IP addresses or geolocations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging for all user authentication and account modification events
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on WordPress core files and the wp-content directory
• Implement real-time alerting for administrator account changes
• Monitor for unusual outbound network connections from the web server
• Regularly audit user accounts for unauthorized privilege escalations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14996

Immediate Actions Required

• Immediately audit all WordPress installations for the AS Password Field In Default Registration Form plugin
• Disable or remove the vulnerable plugin until a patched version is available
• Reset passwords for all administrator accounts on affected sites
• Review user access logs for signs of exploitation
• Implement additional access controls such as two-factor authentication for administrator accounts

Patch Information

Organizations should check for updates from the plugin developer and apply patches as soon as they become available. For the latest vulnerability information, refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report. The vulnerable code can be reviewed at the WordPress Plugin Code Repository.

Workarounds

• Deactivate and remove the AS Password Field In Default Registration Form plugin from all WordPress installations
• Implement IP-based access restrictions for WordPress administrative functions
• Enable two-factor authentication for all user accounts, especially administrators
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to block suspicious authentication requests
• Consider using alternative registration plugins with proper security controls until a fix is available

# WordPress CLI commands to identify and manage the vulnerable plugin
# Check if the vulnerable plugin is installed
wp plugin list --name=as-password-field-in-default-registration-form --format=table

# Deactivate the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate as-password-field-in-default-registration-form

# Force password reset for all administrators
wp user reset-password $(wp user list --role=administrator --field=ID)