CVE-2025-31544 Overview
CVE-2025-31544 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the WP Messiah Swiss Toolkit For WP plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of swiss-toolkit-for-wp up to and including 1.4.5. The plugin exposes functionality protected by incorrectly configured access control checks, allowing authenticated users with low privileges to invoke actions that should be restricted. Successful exploitation results in limited disclosure of information from the affected WordPress site. The vulnerability requires network access and low-privilege authentication, with no user interaction needed.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers holding low-privilege WordPress accounts can access plugin functionality intended for higher-privileged roles, leading to unauthorized information disclosure.
Affected Products
- WP Messiah Swiss Toolkit For WP plugin
- Versions from n/a through 1.4.5 (inclusive)
- WordPress sites with the swiss-toolkit-for-wp plugin installed
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-31 - CVE-2025-31544 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-31544
Vulnerability Analysis
The Swiss Toolkit For WP plugin fails to enforce proper authorization checks on one or more plugin endpoints. WordPress plugins typically gate privileged actions using current_user_can() capability checks combined with nonce verification. When these checks are missing or reference an insufficient capability, users with lower roles such as Subscriber or Contributor can trigger actions intended for administrators or editors.
The issue is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization. Exploitation results in unauthorized access to information handled by the affected plugin functions, but does not directly compromise integrity or availability of the site.
Root Cause
The root cause is an incorrectly configured access control security level on plugin actions. The plugin registers callable endpoints — typically AJAX handlers or REST routes — that either omit capability verification entirely or apply an insufficient capability requirement. Any authenticated session that meets the low threshold is treated as authorized.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires a valid low-privilege WordPress account. An attacker authenticates to the target site, then issues a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. Because authorization is not properly enforced, the server processes the request and returns data that should be restricted. Full technical details are available in the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.
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Stop Identity AttacksDetection Methods for CVE-2025-31544
Indicators of Compromise
- Requests to admin-ajax.php or plugin-specific REST routes originating from Subscriber-level or Contributor-level accounts.
- Unexpected HTTP 200 responses to plugin actions from user sessions that should not have access to those endpoints.
- Repeated enumeration of swiss-toolkit-for-wp action names in web server access logs.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all WordPress installations and identify sites running swiss-toolkit-for-wp at version 1.4.5 or earlier.
- Review web server logs for authenticated but low-privilege requests targeting Swiss Toolkit endpoints.
- Correlate WordPress user activity with plugin action calls to identify capability mismatches.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on new low-privilege account creation followed by requests to plugin AJAX or REST endpoints.
- Monitor for anomalous data egress volumes from WordPress sites hosting the affected plugin.
- Track plugin version changes and configuration updates across managed WordPress inventories.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31544
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress instances running Swiss Toolkit For WP version 1.4.5 or earlier.
- Update the plugin to a patched version released after 1.4.5 as soon as one is available from WP Messiah.
- Audit existing WordPress user accounts and remove unused low-privilege accounts that could be leveraged by attackers.
Patch Information
The vulnerability affects all versions of Swiss Toolkit For WP through 1.4.5. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the WP Messiah plugin repository for the current patched release. Apply the update through the WordPress admin dashboard or via wp-cli.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the Swiss Toolkit For WP plugin until a fixed version is installed.
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin REST endpoints using a web application firewall rule that requires elevated capabilities.
- Disable open user registration on affected WordPress sites to limit the pool of low-privilege attackers.
# Update Swiss Toolkit For WP using wp-cli once a fixed release is published
wp plugin update swiss-toolkit-for-wp
# Or deactivate the plugin as an interim workaround
wp plugin deactivate swiss-toolkit-for-wp
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
