CVE-2025-31777 Overview
CVE-2025-31777 is a missing authorization vulnerability in the BeastThemes Clockinator Lite (clockify-lite) WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.0.9. Attackers can exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels to invoke plugin functionality without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability is network-accessible, requires no authentication, and needs no user interaction. Successful exploitation results in limited integrity impact on affected WordPress installations. The issue is categorized under [CWE-862] Missing Authorization.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can invoke restricted plugin actions on WordPress sites running Clockinator Lite <= 1.0.9, leading to unauthorized modification of plugin-controlled data.
Affected Products
- BeastThemes Clockinator Lite (clockify-lite) plugin for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 1.0.9
- WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin installed and active
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-01 - CVE-2025-31777 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-31777
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks on plugin endpoints exposed by Clockinator Lite. WordPress plugins commonly register AJAX actions or REST endpoints that must validate the current user's capabilities before executing privileged operations. Clockinator Lite fails to enforce these checks on one or more actions through version 1.0.9.
An unauthenticated attacker can send crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoints and trigger functionality intended for authenticated or privileged users. The scope is limited to integrity impact, meaning the flaw allows unauthorized modification of plugin data or settings rather than full site takeover or data disclosure.
The EPSS score is approximately 0.42% as of July 2026, reflecting relatively low observed exploitation activity. No public proof-of-concept exploit or CISA KEV listing exists at this time.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of capability or nonce verification on privileged plugin actions. Secure WordPress plugins should call current_user_can() and check_ajax_referer() or equivalent REST permission callbacks before performing state-changing operations. Clockinator Lite omits these guards on the affected handlers, leaving them reachable by anonymous requests.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network against the target WordPress site. An attacker issues an HTTP POST or GET request to the vulnerable admin-ajax.php action or REST route exposed by the plugin. Because the endpoint accepts requests without validating the caller's role, the plugin executes the requested operation as if invoked by an authorized user. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31777
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected changes to Clockinator Lite plugin settings or content displayed by the plugin
- HTTP requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php containing plugin-specific action parameters from unauthenticated sources
- Access log entries showing anonymous POST requests targeting plugin endpoints followed by HTTP 200 responses
Detection Strategies
- Inventory WordPress deployments and identify installations running clockify-lite at versions <= 1.0.9
- Monitor web server access logs for requests to plugin AJAX or REST endpoints originating from unauthenticated sessions
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to flag or block requests to Clockinator Lite endpoints lacking valid WordPress authentication cookies
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging to capture changes to plugin options and post metadata
- Alert on plugin configuration changes made outside of authenticated administrator sessions
- Correlate WAF alerts, WordPress audit logs, and file integrity monitoring to identify successful exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31777
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites with the Clockinator Lite plugin installed and record the installed version
- Update Clockinator Lite to a fixed version released after 1.0.9 once available from BeastThemes
- Deactivate and remove the plugin if a patched version is not yet available and the functionality is not essential
Patch Information
At time of publication, the Patchstack advisory lists versions through 1.0.9 as vulnerable. Administrators should check the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the official WordPress plugin repository for the latest fixed release. Apply updates through the WordPress admin dashboard or via wp-cli.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin REST routes at the WAF or reverse proxy layer to authenticated sessions where feasible
- Disable the Clockinator Lite plugin until a patched version is installed
- Apply virtual patching rules through a managed WAF service to block requests targeting the vulnerable plugin actions
# Configuration example: identify and disable the vulnerable plugin using wp-cli
wp plugin list --name=clockify-lite --fields=name,status,version
wp plugin deactivate clockify-lite
wp plugin update clockify-lite
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
