CVE-2025-64215 Overview
CVE-2025-64215 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting StylemixThemes MasterStudy LMS Pro, a commercial learning management system plugin for WordPress. The flaw allows attackers to access functionality not properly constrained by Access Control Lists (ACLs). All versions prior to 4.7.16 are affected.
The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication or user interaction. An attacker can interact with plugin functionality intended for authorized users only, resulting in limited impact to integrity and availability.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can invoke plugin functionality that should be restricted, enabling unauthorized modification of data and limited disruption to MasterStudy LMS Pro-powered WordPress sites.
Affected Products
- StylemixThemes MasterStudy LMS Pro versions prior to 4.7.16
- WordPress sites running the MasterStudy LMS Learning Management System Pro plugin
- Any deployment of MasterStudy LMS Pro not yet updated to 4.7.16 or later
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-15 - CVE-2025-64215 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-64215
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks within MasterStudy LMS Pro [CWE-862]. The plugin exposes functionality through one or more endpoints that fail to verify whether the requesting user holds the required capability or role before executing the requested action.
Broken access control in WordPress plugins typically occurs when AJAX actions, REST API routes, or admin-post handlers omit current_user_can() checks or rely solely on nonce validation. In either case, the server processes privileged operations on behalf of users who should not have access.
The impact is limited to integrity and availability, with no confidentiality impact reported. This pattern is consistent with endpoints that mutate state, such as course enrollment, content modification, or settings updates, without exposing sensitive stored data.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of proper authorization enforcement before invoking restricted functionality. The plugin code does not validate that the caller has the necessary permissions, leaving the action accessible to lower-privileged or unauthenticated requesters.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoint over the network. No prior authentication or user interaction is required. Because the endpoint executes without verifying ACLs, the attacker's request triggers functionality that should be gated by role or capability checks.
No public proof-of-concept exploit has been published, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Technical specifics are documented in the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-64215
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to courses, lessons, quizzes, or user enrollment records in MasterStudy LMS Pro database tables.
- HTTP requests from unauthenticated sources targeting admin-ajax.php or REST routes registered by the masterstudy-lms-learning-management-system-pro plugin.
- Anomalous spikes in POST traffic to plugin endpoints without accompanying authentication cookies.
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress access logs for requests to MasterStudy LMS Pro AJAX actions and REST endpoints originating from unauthenticated sessions.
- Compare current versions of MasterStudy LMS Pro across sites and flag any installation below 4.7.16.
- Monitor WordPress audit logs for state changes performed by users lacking the expected capabilities.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging for plugin AJAX and REST API calls, capturing source IP, user context, and action parameters.
- Forward web server and WordPress application logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation against known attack patterns.
- Alert on repeated 200-response calls to plugin endpoints from a single IP without an authenticated session.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-64215
Immediate Actions Required
- Update MasterStudy LMS Pro to version 4.7.16 or later across all WordPress installations.
- Inventory all WordPress sites using the plugin and prioritize patching internet-facing instances first.
- Review recent administrative and content changes for signs of unauthorized activity.
Patch Information
StylemixThemes addressed the issue in MasterStudy LMS Pro version 4.7.16. Administrators should upgrade through the WordPress plugin manager or by deploying the vendor-supplied package. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to the WordPress admin-ajax.php endpoint and plugin REST routes at the web application firewall (WAF) layer until the patch is applied.
- Temporarily deactivate MasterStudy LMS Pro on sites where immediate patching is not feasible.
- Apply IP allow-listing to administrative areas to reduce exposure of plugin endpoints to untrusted networks.
# Configuration example: update MasterStudy LMS Pro via WP-CLI
wp plugin update masterstudy-lms-learning-management-system-pro --version=4.7.16
wp plugin get masterstudy-lms-learning-management-system-pro --field=version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
