CVE-2025-29012 Overview
CVE-2025-29012 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the kamleshyadav CF7 7 Mailchimp Add-on plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of CF7-mailchimp-addon from an unspecified starting release up to and including version 2.4. The plugin fails to enforce access control checks on one or more actions, allowing unauthenticated network attackers to interact with functionality that should be restricted to authorized users. The issue is classified as Broken Access Control resulting from incorrectly configured access control security levels.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can invoke plugin actions that should require authorization, leading to limited integrity impact on affected WordPress sites.
Affected Products
- kamleshyadav CF7 7 Mailchimp Add-on (CF7-mailchimp-addon) versions through 2.4
- WordPress sites running Contact Form 7 with the vulnerable Mailchimp Add-on installed
- Plugin releases prior to the vendor-provided fix
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-07-04 - CVE-2025-29012 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-29012
Vulnerability Analysis
The CF7 7 Mailchimp Add-on integrates Mailchimp subscription functionality with Contact Form 7 in WordPress. The plugin registers one or more AJAX or REST endpoints without verifying that the caller has the appropriate role or capability. Missing Authorization [CWE-862] means the server-side code executes privileged operations based only on the request being well-formed, without confirming user permissions.
Attackers reach the vulnerable endpoints over the network with no authentication and no user interaction. The scope of impact is limited to integrity, meaning an attacker can modify data handled by the plugin but cannot directly read confidential information or take the site offline through this flaw alone.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of capability checks such as current_user_can() and nonce validation via check_ajax_referer() or wp_verify_nonce() on plugin request handlers. WordPress plugins that expose administrative actions through admin-ajax.php or REST routes must gate those handlers with explicit authorization logic. In vulnerable releases up to 2.4, this logic is either missing or incorrectly configured, allowing any visitor to trigger the affected actions.
Attack Vector
An unauthenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request directly to the vulnerable plugin endpoint on a target WordPress site. Because the endpoint does not validate the caller's role or a valid nonce, the plugin processes the request and performs the associated action. Exploitation requires only network access to the WordPress site and knowledge of the endpoint path and parameters. No verified public proof-of-concept is available at this time. See the Patchstack CVE Advisory for additional technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-29012
Indicators of Compromise
- Unauthenticated POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php referencing CF7 Mailchimp add-on actions.
- Unexpected changes to Mailchimp integration settings or subscriber data associated with the plugin.
- Requests to plugin endpoints originating from IP addresses that never authenticated to wp-login.php.
Detection Strategies
- Review web server access logs for repeated anonymous requests to plugin AJAX actions containing cf7 and mailchimp action parameters.
- Compare the installed plugin version against the fixed release using WordPress site inventory data.
- Alert on HTTP requests to admin-ajax.php that return HTTP 200 with no authenticated session cookie.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest WordPress and web server logs into a centralized log platform and correlate anonymous administrative actions with source IP reputation.
- Track plugin version drift across managed WordPress instances and flag installations still on CF7-mailchimp-addon <= 2.4.
- Monitor for changes to plugin configuration tables in the WordPress database that occur outside authenticated admin sessions.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-29012
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the CF7 7 Mailchimp Add-on plugin to the latest version listed in the Patchstack CVE Advisory.
- Audit WordPress sites for the presence of CF7-mailchimp-addon at version 2.4 or earlier.
- Review Mailchimp integration settings and subscriber lists for unauthorized modifications.
Patch Information
The vendor addressed CVE-2025-29012 in a release published after version 2.4. Site owners should upgrade to the current published version of the CF7 7 Mailchimp Add-on plugin. Refer to the Patchstack advisory linked above for the exact fixed version and vendor changelog references.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the CF7 7 Mailchimp Add-on plugin until it can be updated to a fixed version.
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php at the web application firewall for actions associated with the vulnerable plugin.
- Limit administrative endpoints to known IP ranges where feasible using web server or WAF rules.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
