CVE-2025-22265: EMI Calculator Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-22265 Overview

CVE-2025-22265 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting the mgplugin EMI Calculator plugin for WordPress. The flaw stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels, allowing unauthenticated attackers to reach functionality that should require privileged access. The issue affects all versions of the emi-calculator plugin up to and including 1.1.

An attacker can send crafted HTTP requests over the network without authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation allows unauthorized modification of plugin settings, impacting integrity and availability of the affected WordPress site.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can change EMI Calculator plugin settings on affected WordPress installations, altering site behavior without administrator involvement.

Affected Products

mgplugin EMI Calculator (emi-calculator) WordPress plugin, versions through 1.1
WordPress sites running the vulnerable emi-calculator plugin
Any hosting environment exposing the plugin's endpoints to the internet

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-31 - CVE-2025-22265 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-22265

Vulnerability Analysis

The EMI Calculator plugin exposes settings-modification functionality without enforcing proper authorization checks. WordPress plugins typically must validate both capability (current_user_can()) and request authenticity (nonce verification) before processing state-changing operations. This plugin fails to enforce those checks on at least one settings endpoint through version 1.1.

The vulnerability is network-reachable, requires no privileges, and requires no user interaction. Impact is limited to partial integrity and availability effects because the exposed functionality alters plugin configuration rather than confidential data. The EPSS model estimates a low near-term probability of exploitation, consistent with the plugin's limited install base.

Root Cause

The root cause is a missing authorization check [CWE-862] on a settings-change handler within the emi-calculator plugin. The handler processes requests without verifying that the caller holds an administrative capability such as manage_options. As documented in the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability entry, the endpoint permits settings modification by any requester.

Attack Vector

An unauthenticated remote attacker sends an HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint exposed by the plugin. The request supplies attacker-controlled parameters that overwrite plugin settings. Because no capability check or nonce validation blocks the request, the server processes it as though it originated from an administrator. No exploit code is publicly indexed for this CVE at the time of writing, and it is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22265

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected changes in EMI Calculator plugin settings within the WordPress wp_options table
HTTP POST or GET requests to admin-ajax.php or plugin-specific endpoints referencing emi-calculator actions from unauthenticated sessions
Requests to plugin endpoints missing the standard _wpnonce parameter
Audit log entries showing settings modifications with no associated administrator login

Detection Strategies

Monitor WordPress access logs for requests targeting emi-calculator endpoints originating from IPs with no prior authenticated session
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that blocks requests to the plugin's settings action without a valid nonce or authenticated cookie
Track modifications to wp_options rows associated with the plugin and alert on changes outside maintenance windows

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress activity logging (via a security plugin) to capture setting changes with source IP and user context
Forward web server and WordPress logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation with authentication events
Baseline expected traffic to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and alert on anonymous requests carrying plugin-specific action parameters

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22265

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress installations running the emi-calculator plugin and inventory versions
Deactivate and remove the plugin on sites where it is not actively used
Restrict access to /wp-admin/ and admin-ajax.php from untrusted networks where feasible
Review plugin settings and restore any values that were altered without authorization

Patch Information

At the time of the referenced advisory, the vulnerability affects emi-calculator versions through 1.1. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability advisory and the WordPress plugin repository for the latest fixed release. Apply the vendor update as soon as it becomes available.

Workarounds

Uninstall the emi-calculator plugin until a patched version is available
Deploy a WAF virtual patch that blocks requests to the plugin's settings-change action from unauthenticated sources
Enforce authentication on admin-ajax.php action names associated with the plugin via server-side rules
Restrict administrative endpoints by IP allowlist at the reverse proxy or hosting control panel

bash

# Example nginx rule to block unauthenticated requests to the vulnerable action
location = /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php {
    if ($arg_action ~* "emi_calculator") {
        if ($http_cookie !~* "wordpress_logged_in") {
            return 403;
        }
    }
}