CVE-2025-62973 Overview
CVE-2025-62973 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the Themekraft BuddyForms plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of BuddyForms up to and including 2.9.0. Unauthenticated attackers can access functionality that is not properly constrained by access control lists (ACLs), resulting in limited information disclosure. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without user interaction or prior authentication. Successful exploitation impacts the confidentiality of data managed by the plugin but does not affect integrity or availability of the host system.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can invoke BuddyForms functionality that lacks proper authorization checks, exposing information intended to be restricted to privileged users.
Affected Products
- Themekraft BuddyForms plugin for WordPress
- All versions from unspecified initial release through 2.9.0
- WordPress sites with the BuddyForms plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-10-27 - CVE-2025-62973 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-62973
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a broken access control weakness in the BuddyForms WordPress plugin. BuddyForms exposes plugin functionality through WordPress action hooks and AJAX endpoints that fail to verify the caller's role, capability, or nonce prior to execution. Because the authorization check is missing, requests that should be limited to authenticated administrators or specific user roles can be issued by any network client, including unauthenticated visitors.
The scope of impact is limited to confidentiality according to the CVSS vector. This is consistent with a class of endpoints that read or return data belonging to forms, submissions, or plugin configuration rather than modifying it. Additional technical detail is available in the Patchstack Plugin Vulnerability Report.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of current_user_can() capability checks and nonce validation (via check_ajax_referer() or wp_verify_nonce()) on one or more BuddyForms handlers. WordPress plugins must gate privileged operations behind explicit authorization; BuddyForms 2.9.0 and earlier omit these checks on at least one code path, leaving the functionality reachable by any actor who can send an HTTP request to the site.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to a WordPress site that has BuddyForms installed. The request targets a plugin endpoint (typically admin-ajax.php with a BuddyForms action parameter) that lacks authorization enforcement. Because no credentials, session, or nonce are required, exploitation can be automated at scale against internet-exposed WordPress deployments. No verified public proof-of-concept was available at the time of writing.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-62973
Indicators of Compromise
- Unauthenticated POST or GET requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php containing BuddyForms action parameters from unfamiliar source IP addresses.
- Spikes in anonymous requests referencing BuddyForms handlers in web server access logs.
- Outbound data patterns consistent with automated scraping of form or submission data.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory WordPress installations and identify sites running BuddyForms at version 2.9.0 or earlier using plugin management tooling or file hashes.
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag unauthenticated access to BuddyForms AJAX actions.
- Correlate WordPress access logs with authentication logs to identify privileged actions executed without a corresponding logged-in session.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on admin-ajax.php and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for retention and query.
- Alert on repeated requests to plugin endpoints from a single IP within short intervals, which indicates enumeration.
- Monitor for changes to BuddyForms plugin files and configuration to catch follow-on tampering.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-62973
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the BuddyForms plugin to a version later than 2.9.0 as soon as the vendor releases a fixed release.
- If a patched version is not yet available, deactivate the BuddyForms plugin on production sites until a fix is applied.
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php from untrusted networks where feasible using WAF or reverse proxy rules.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no fixed version beyond 2.9.0 is confirmed in the referenced advisory. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Plugin Vulnerability Report and the Themekraft plugin page on WordPress.org for updates, then apply the patched release across all affected sites.
Workarounds
- Deploy virtual patching via a WAF to block unauthenticated requests to BuddyForms AJAX actions until the plugin is updated.
- Limit plugin exposure by placing the WordPress admin interface behind IP allow-listing or a VPN.
- Disable or remove BuddyForms on sites that do not actively require its functionality.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
