CVE-2025-6038 Overview
CVE-2025-6038 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Lisfinity Core plugin, used by the pebas® Lisfinity classified ads WordPress theme. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 1.4.0. The plugin fails to properly validate a user's identity before updating their password. Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or above can change the password of arbitrary users, including administrators. This results in full account takeover and complete compromise of the affected WordPress site. The weakness is classified as Authorization Bypass through User-Controlled Key [CWE-639].
Critical Impact
A Subscriber-level account can reset an administrator's password and seize full control of the WordPress site.
Affected Products
- Lisfinity Core plugin for WordPress, versions up to and including 1.4.0
- pebas® Lisfinity Classified Ads WordPress theme deployments bundling Lisfinity Core
- WordPress sites with Subscriber-or-higher registration enabled and the plugin installed
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-10-09 - CVE-2025-6038 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-6038
Vulnerability Analysis
The Lisfinity Core plugin exposes a password update workflow that accepts a target user identifier from the request without verifying that the caller owns that account. Any authenticated session — including a low-privileged Subscriber — can submit a request specifying another user's identifier and a new password. The plugin processes the change and overwrites the target user's credentials. After resetting an administrator's password, the attacker authenticates as that administrator and gains full control of the site, including plugin installation, theme editing, and database access.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing authorization on a password update handler, mapped to [CWE-639] (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key). The endpoint trusts a user-supplied identifier instead of binding the password change to the authenticated session. There is no capability check (current_user_can) and no nonce-bound verification tying the request to the account being modified. As a result, the access control model collapses to whatever role can reach the endpoint, which is any authenticated user.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires only network access to the WordPress site and a valid low-privilege account. On sites that allow open registration, an attacker self-registers as a Subscriber, authenticates, and issues the vulnerable password update request targeting an administrator's user ID. The attacker then logs in with the new credentials. No user interaction from the victim is required, and the attack is fully scriptable. Indicators in request bodies typically include a user_id or equivalent parameter alongside a new password field submitted to the plugin's account endpoint.
No public proof-of-concept code has been released. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-6038
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected password change events in the WordPress wp_users table or audit logs for administrator accounts
- Subscriber accounts created shortly before an administrator password reset, often from previously unseen IP addresses
- Successful administrator logins from geolocations or user-agents inconsistent with normal staff activity
- New administrator users, plugin installations, or theme file edits performed immediately after a password change
Detection Strategies
- Monitor HTTP POST requests to Lisfinity Core account or profile endpoints that include a user_id parameter not matching the authenticated session
- Alert on WordPress password_reset and profile_update hooks where the acting user differs from the modified user and lacks the edit_users capability
- Correlate Subscriber-role logins with subsequent administrator authentication from the same IP within a short window
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging for user role changes, password resets, and administrator logins
- Forward web server and application logs to a centralized analytics platform to retain request bodies for forensic review
- Track installations of the Lisfinity Core plugin across the estate and flag any instance at version 1.4.0 or earlier
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-6038
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Lisfinity Core plugin to a version later than 1.4.0 as soon as the vendor publishes a fix
- Force a password reset for all administrator and editor accounts on affected sites
- Audit the user list for unauthorized administrator accounts and remove any that are not approved
- Rotate WordPress secret keys in wp-config.php and invalidate active sessions
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no fixed version is listed in the NVD record. Site operators should consult the vendor distribution page on ThemeForest and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for patch availability. Apply the vendor update through the WordPress admin dashboard once released and verify the installed version is greater than 1.4.0.
Workarounds
- Disable open user registration by unchecking Settings → General → Membership until a patched version is installed
- Restrict access to the plugin's account endpoints with a web application firewall rule that blocks requests where the submitted user_id does not match the session user
- Deactivate the Lisfinity Core plugin on production sites that cannot enforce the above controls
- Enforce multi-factor authentication for all administrator accounts to limit the value of a stolen password
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
