CVE-2025-60165: HaruTheme Frames Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-60165 Overview

CVE-2025-60165 is a missing authorization vulnerability in the HaruTheme Frames WordPress theme. The flaw affects all versions from initial release through 1.5.7 and stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels [CWE-862]. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can exploit this weakness over the network to access functionality that should be restricted. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.3 and affects the integrity of impacted WordPress installations. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing exists at the time of writing. Site owners running the Frames theme should update to a patched release once available and audit user roles for suspicious activity.

Critical Impact
Authenticated users with minimal privileges can invoke restricted theme functions, enabling limited integrity impact on affected WordPress sites.

Affected Products

HaruTheme Frames WordPress theme, versions up to and including 1.5.7
WordPress installations using vulnerable Frames theme releases
Multisite WordPress environments running Frames as an active or network-enabled theme

Discovery Timeline

2025-09-26 - CVE-2025-60165 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-60165

Vulnerability Analysis

The Frames theme exposes one or more actions that fail to verify the caller's authorization level before executing. The theme relies on incorrectly configured access control checks, allowing subscribers or other low-privileged authenticated users to reach functionality reserved for administrators or editors. Because the attack vector is network-based and requires no user interaction, exploitation reduces to sending a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable endpoint. The confidentiality and availability impacts are none, but attackers can modify data or configuration exposed by the unprotected action.

Root Cause

The root cause is a missing authorization check [CWE-862]. The theme performs authentication verification but omits a capability or role check before executing privileged operations. Access control decisions rely on assumptions about the calling context rather than explicit current_user_can() validation against a required capability.

Attack Vector

An attacker must first obtain a low-privileged authenticated session on the target WordPress site. This session can come from self-registration on sites that allow it, credential compromise, or an existing subscriber account. The attacker then issues an HTTP request to the vulnerable theme action, bypassing the intended role restriction. Full technical details are available in the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. The vulnerability mechanism involves invoking theme-registered AJAX or admin-post handlers without the expected capability enforcement.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-60165

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected POST requests from low-privileged user accounts targeting theme-specific admin-ajax.php or admin-post.php actions registered by Frames
Unauthorized modifications to theme options, page templates, or content attributed to subscriber-level accounts
New or altered WordPress content, menus, or widgets without corresponding administrator activity in audit logs

Detection Strategies

Review WordPress access logs for authenticated requests hitting Frames theme endpoints from users lacking editor or administrator roles
Correlate WordPress audit plugin data with web server logs to identify privilege boundary violations
Enable verbose logging on wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and inspect the action parameter for Frames-related handlers

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor user role changes and content modifications performed by non-administrative accounts
Alert on spikes in authenticated traffic to theme AJAX endpoints from single sessions or IP addresses
Track installations of the Frames theme across WordPress fleets and flag versions at or below 1.5.7

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-60165

Immediate Actions Required

Update the HaruTheme Frames theme to a version above 1.5.7 as soon as the vendor releases a patched build
Audit all low-privileged WordPress accounts and disable self-registration if it is not required
Rotate credentials for any accounts showing suspicious activity against theme endpoints

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no fixed version is confirmed in the enriched CVE data. Track vendor updates through the HaruTheme product page and monitor the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for a patched release announcement.

Workarounds

Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and wp-admin/admin-post.php from unauthenticated and low-privileged sessions using a web application firewall rule
Temporarily switch to an alternative theme if a patched Frames release is unavailable and immediate risk reduction is required
Disable open user registration in WordPress settings to raise the barrier to obtaining an authenticated session

bash

# Example WordPress hardening: disable open registration and enforce least privilege
wp option update users_can_register 0
wp option update default_role subscriber
wp user list --role=subscriber --fields=ID,user_login,user_registered