CVE-2025-67975: aDirectory Authorization Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-67975 Overview

CVE-2025-67975 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability discovered in the aDirectory WordPress plugin. This broken access control flaw allows attackers with low-privilege credentials to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications within the affected WordPress installations.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can bypass authorization controls to perform unauthorized actions, potentially compromising data integrity within WordPress sites using the aDirectory plugin.

Affected Products

• aDirectory WordPress Plugin versions through 3.0.3
• WordPress installations with aDirectory plugin installed

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-20 - CVE CVE-2025-67975 published to NVD
• 2026-02-25 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-67975

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from a Missing Authorization weakness (CWE-862) in the aDirectory WordPress plugin. The flaw exists because the plugin fails to properly validate user permissions before allowing certain actions to be performed. When authorization checks are missing, authenticated users with minimal privileges can execute operations that should be restricted to administrators or other higher-privileged roles.

The vulnerability requires network access and valid authentication credentials but can be exploited without user interaction. The impact is primarily focused on integrity, meaning attackers can modify data or configurations they shouldn't have access to, while confidentiality and availability remain unaffected.

Root Cause

The root cause is a Missing Authorization check (CWE-862) within the aDirectory plugin's code. The plugin fails to implement proper permission verification before processing sensitive requests, allowing low-privileged authenticated users to bypass intended access control restrictions. This is a common vulnerability pattern in WordPress plugins where developers assume authentication alone is sufficient, neglecting the need for granular authorization checks on specific operations.

Attack Vector

An attacker with valid credentials to the WordPress site (even with minimal subscriber-level access) can craft specific requests to the aDirectory plugin endpoints. Because the plugin does not verify whether the authenticated user has the appropriate permissions to perform the requested action, the attacker can execute privileged operations. This typically involves sending HTTP requests directly to vulnerable AJAX handlers or REST API endpoints that lack proper capability checks.

The attack is executed over the network and requires low-privilege authentication to the target WordPress site. No user interaction is required from administrators or other users for successful exploitation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-67975

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected modifications to aDirectory plugin settings or directory listings
• Unusual activity from low-privileged user accounts accessing administrative functions
• HTTP request logs showing unauthorized access attempts to aDirectory-specific endpoints
• Database changes to aDirectory tables originating from non-administrative user sessions

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress activity logs for authorization failures and unusual access patterns related to the aDirectory plugin
• Implement file integrity monitoring on the aDirectory plugin directory to detect unauthorized changes
• Review HTTP access logs for suspicious POST requests to aDirectory AJAX handlers from authenticated sessions
• Configure Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to alert on potential access control bypass attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive audit logging for all WordPress user actions, particularly those interacting with the aDirectory plugin
• Set up alerts for any modifications to directory listings or plugin configurations by non-administrative users
• Implement real-time monitoring of user session activities for privilege escalation indicators
• Regularly review access control configurations and user permission assignments

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-67975

Immediate Actions Required

• Review current aDirectory plugin version and update to a patched version when available from the vendor
• Audit user roles and remove unnecessary access privileges from untrusted accounts
• Temporarily restrict access to the aDirectory plugin functionality for low-privilege users
• Implement additional access controls at the web server or WAF level to limit plugin endpoint access

Patch Information

Organizations should monitor the Patchstack WordPress Plugin Vulnerability advisory for updates on official patches. The vulnerability affects aDirectory versions through 3.0.3, and users should upgrade to a patched version as soon as one becomes available from the plugin developer.

Workarounds

• Implement additional capability checks using WordPress hooks before processing aDirectory requests
• Restrict plugin access to trusted administrator accounts only until a patch is available
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with rules to block unauthorized access to vulnerable endpoints
• Consider temporarily disabling the aDirectory plugin if it is not critical to site operations

# Example: Restrict access to aDirectory plugin via .htaccess (temporary workaround)
# Add to WordPress wp-content/plugins/adirectory/.htaccess

<Files "*.php">
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 127.0.0.1
</Files>

# Note: This may break plugin functionality - test thoroughly
# Adjust allowed IPs based on your administrative access requirements