CVE-2025-26764 Overview
CVE-2025-26764 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the enituretechnology Distance Based Shipping Calculator plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 2.0.22. Attackers can exploit incorrectly configured access control on plugin endpoints to modify plugin settings without proper authorization. The issue is network-exploitable with low attack complexity and requires no authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized modification of shipping calculator settings, affecting integrity and availability of the WordPress site's shipping functionality. The vulnerability was published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) on February 22, 2025.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can alter plugin settings, disrupting shipping calculations on affected WooCommerce-based stores.
Affected Products
- enituretechnology Distance Based Shipping Calculator plugin for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 2.0.22
- WordPress sites using the distance-based-shipping-calculator plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-22 - CVE-2025-26764 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26764
Vulnerability Analysis
The Distance Based Shipping Calculator plugin exposes one or more action handlers that modify plugin settings without verifying the caller's privileges. The endpoints lack proper capability checks, allowing unauthenticated network callers to invoke administrative functionality. This class of flaw is tracked as Missing Authorization [CWE-862] and commonly appears in WordPress plugins that rely on nonce checks alone or omit current_user_can() verification. The vulnerability's scope is limited to integrity and availability of plugin configuration, with no direct impact on confidentiality. Attackers can automate exploitation at scale against public WordPress sites running the plugin.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of authorization checks on privileged plugin actions. WordPress plugins typically expose settings updates through admin-post.php or admin-ajax.php handlers, or via REST API routes. When these handlers omit capability checks such as current_user_can('manage_options') or use permissive permission_callback values on REST routes, any unauthenticated visitor can trigger settings changes. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network against the WordPress site's HTTP interface. An attacker sends a crafted request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint with parameters that alter shipping calculator settings. No credentials, session, or user interaction are required. Modified settings can degrade shipping calculations, redirect logic, or disable the calculator for legitimate customers.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26764
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected changes to Distance Based Shipping Calculator plugin settings within the WordPress admin interface
- HTTP POST requests to admin-ajax.php or admin-post.php referencing plugin actions from unauthenticated sources
- WordPress options table entries related to the plugin modified outside normal administrator activity
- Customer reports of incorrect shipping quotes or failed checkout calculations
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress activity logs and web server access logs for anonymous requests targeting plugin action handlers
- Compare current plugin configuration against a known-good baseline stored outside the WordPress database
- Enable WordPress audit logging plugins to capture settings changes and the associated user context
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on POST requests to plugin endpoints originating from unauthenticated sessions or unusual IP ranges
- Monitor the wp_options table for modifications to plugin-specific keys
- Track failed or anomalous shipping calculation events in WooCommerce order logs
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26764
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress installations running the Distance Based Shipping Calculator plugin at version 2.0.22 or earlier
- Deactivate the plugin until a patched version is confirmed available from the vendor
- Restore plugin settings to a validated baseline if unauthorized changes are detected
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and /wp-admin/admin-post.php at the web application firewall (WAF) where feasible
Patch Information
At the time of NVD publication, the advisory references versions up to and including 2.0.22 as vulnerable. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the plugin vendor's release notes for a fixed release, then update through the WordPress plugin manager once available.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the plugin if shipping calculation functionality is not business-critical
- Deploy WAF rules blocking unauthenticated POST requests to plugin-specific action parameters
- Restrict WordPress admin endpoints to trusted IP addresses using web server access controls
- Implement a WordPress security plugin that enforces capability checks and logs settings changes
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
