CVE-2025-67956: User Registration Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-67956 Overview

CVE-2025-67956 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability discovered in the wpeverest User Registration plugin for WordPress. This broken access control flaw allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially enabling unauthorized actions within WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of the plugin.

Critical Impact

Unauthorized users may bypass intended access controls, potentially gaining elevated privileges or accessing restricted functionality within WordPress sites using the User Registration plugin.

Affected Products

• wpeverest User Registration plugin versions through 4.4.6
• WordPress installations using vulnerable User Registration plugin versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-22 - CVE CVE-2025-67956 published to NVD
• 2026-01-22 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-67956

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), which occurs when a software component does not perform proper authorization checks before allowing access to a resource or functionality. In the context of the User Registration plugin, the missing authorization allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels.

The User Registration plugin by wpeverest is designed to handle user registration workflows in WordPress. When authorization checks are absent or improperly implemented, authenticated or even unauthenticated users may be able to perform actions that should be restricted to administrators or specific user roles.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the absence of proper authorization verification before executing sensitive operations. The plugin fails to adequately validate whether the requesting user has sufficient privileges to perform certain actions, leading to a broken access control condition. This is a common issue in WordPress plugins where AJAX handlers or REST API endpoints are exposed without proper capability checks using functions like current_user_can().

Attack Vector

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted requests to vulnerable endpoints within the User Registration plugin. Since authorization checks are missing, these requests may be processed regardless of the attacker's actual permission level. This could allow:

• Unauthorized modification of user registration settings
• Access to restricted user data or functionality
• Potential privilege escalation within the WordPress environment
• Manipulation of registration workflows

The attack can potentially be executed remotely by any user who can interact with the WordPress installation, depending on the specific functionality exposed by the missing authorization check.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-67956

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual modifications to User Registration plugin settings without administrator action
• Unexpected user role changes or privilege escalations in WordPress user accounts
• Anomalous API or AJAX requests targeting User Registration plugin endpoints
• Unauthorized access patterns in WordPress and web server logs

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress audit logs for unauthorized changes to plugin configurations
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests to User Registration endpoints
• Review access logs for unusual POST requests to admin-ajax.php or REST API endpoints associated with the plugin
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions to identify exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging for WordPress administrative actions and plugin activities
• Configure alerts for modifications to user roles and registration settings
• Regularly audit user accounts for unexpected privilege changes
• Monitor network traffic for unusual patterns targeting WordPress plugin endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-67956

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the User Registration plugin to a patched version beyond 4.4.6 when available
• Temporarily disable the User Registration plugin if an immediate update is not possible
• Review user accounts and roles for any unauthorized changes
• Implement additional access controls at the web server or WAF level

Patch Information

Users should update the User Registration plugin to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability. Monitor the plugin's changelog and the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for official patch announcements and remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to WordPress admin interfaces using IP whitelisting or VPN requirements
• Implement a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to filter malicious requests
• Disable the User Registration plugin until an official patch is released
• Regularly backup your WordPress installation to enable quick recovery if compromise occurs

# Temporary mitigation: Restrict plugin access via .htaccess
# Add to WordPress root .htaccess file to limit admin-ajax.php access
<Files admin-ajax.php>
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
    Allow from YOUR_TRUSTED_IP
</Files>