CVE-2025-62972: WebinarPress Authorization Bypass Flaw

CVE-2025-62972 Overview

CVE-2025-62972 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the WPWebinarSystem WebinarPress plugin (wp-webinarsystem) for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.33.28. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can abuse incorrectly configured access control security levels to reach functionality that should be restricted. The weakness enables limited availability impact over the network, with no confidentiality or integrity impact per the published CVSS vector. Patchstack cataloged the issue in October 2025 as a broken access control vulnerability in the plugin.

Critical Impact

Authenticated users can invoke plugin functions without proper authorization checks, enabling limited denial-of-service style abuse against WordPress sites running vulnerable WebinarPress installations.

Affected Products

• WPWebinarSystem WebinarPress plugin for WordPress
• WebinarPress versions from n/a through 1.33.28 (inclusive)
• WordPress sites using the wp-webinarsystem plugin (Lite edition CPE)

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-10-27 - CVE-2025-62972 published to NVD
• 2026-10-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-62972

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks in the WebinarPress plugin. The plugin exposes functionality that should enforce capability or role checks but does not. An authenticated user with low privileges, such as a subscriber, can send a crafted request that invokes restricted handlers. The attack vector is the network, and user interaction is not required. Impact is limited to availability according to the published CVSS vector; confidentiality and integrity are not affected.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified under [CWE-862: Missing Authorization]. The plugin registers action handlers or REST endpoints that execute privileged operations without verifying the caller's WordPress capabilities. Typical patterns include calling add_action('wp_ajax_...') handlers that omit current_user_can() checks or REST routes with permission_callback returning __return_true. The result is incorrectly configured access control security levels that allow low-privileged accounts to reach functions intended for administrators or editors.

Attack Vector

An attacker first authenticates to the target WordPress site with any low-privileged account. The attacker then issues HTTP requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoint associated with WebinarPress. Because the handler does not validate the caller's role or capability, the request executes. Repeated or targeted invocation can degrade site availability. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-62972

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected POST requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action parameters tied to WebinarPress from non-administrative user sessions.
• Requests to WebinarPress REST routes under /wp-json/ originating from accounts with Subscriber or Contributor roles.
• Anomalous changes to webinar configurations, schedules, or registrant data performed by non-privileged accounts.

Detection Strategies

• Review WordPress access logs for authenticated requests to wp-webinarsystem endpoints from accounts without administrator capabilities.
• Enable WordPress audit logging plugins to capture plugin action invocations and correlate them against the acting user's role.
• Compare installed WebinarPress plugin version against 1.33.28 to identify exposed instances.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Alert on repeated AJAX or REST calls to WebinarPress handlers from a single low-privileged account within short time windows.
• Monitor WordPress error logs and PHP-FPM worker counts for availability degradation that correlates with plugin endpoint traffic.
• Baseline normal webinar-management activity so unauthorized operations stand out against expected administrator behavior.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-62972

Immediate Actions Required

• Inventory all WordPress sites and identify installations of the WebinarPress plugin at version 1.33.28 or earlier.
• Restrict user registration and audit existing low-privileged accounts until the plugin is patched or disabled.
• Place vulnerable sites behind a web application firewall with rules blocking anonymous or low-privileged access to WebinarPress endpoints.

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the Patchstack advisory lists the vulnerability as affecting WebinarPress up to and including 1.33.28. Administrators should consult the vendor's plugin listing and the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the fixed version and upgrade immediately once available.

Workarounds

• Deactivate and remove the WebinarPress plugin on sites where it is not actively required.
• Enforce strong role separation and remove unused low-privileged accounts to reduce the pool of potential authenticated attackers.
• Add WAF or reverse-proxy rules that require administrator session cookies for requests targeting WebinarPress AJAX actions and REST routes.

# Example: block anonymous access to WebinarPress REST routes at the reverse proxy
location ~ ^/wp-json/wp-webinarsystem/ {
    if ($http_cookie !~* "wordpress_logged_in") {
        return 403;
    }
}