CVE-2025-69303 Overview
CVE-2025-69303 is a missing authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the ModelTheme Framework plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.9.2, with the issue resolved in version 2.0.0. Attackers can exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels to access functionality that should be restricted to authorized users. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation results in unauthorized information access from affected WordPress sites running the plugin.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass access controls in the ModelTheme Framework plugin to access restricted plugin functionality, leading to confidentiality impact on affected WordPress installations.
Affected Products
- ModelTheme Framework plugin (modeltheme-framework) for WordPress
- All versions up to and including 1.9.2
- Fixed in version 2.0.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-20 - CVE-2025-69303 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-69303
Vulnerability Analysis
The ModelTheme Framework plugin contains a broken access control flaw classified as missing authorization [CWE-862]. The plugin exposes functionality through endpoints that fail to verify whether the requesting user holds the necessary permissions. Attackers send crafted HTTP requests directly to vulnerable endpoints without supplying authentication credentials.
The issue arises from incorrectly configured access control security levels within the plugin's request handlers. Authorization checks are either absent or improperly implemented, allowing requests from unauthenticated or low-privileged users to reach protected logic. The impact is limited to confidentiality, meaning attackers can read data exposed through the affected functions but cannot directly modify site contents or trigger denial-of-service conditions through this flaw.
The vulnerability requires no special conditions beyond network access to the target WordPress site. According to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report, the issue affects the plugin through version 1.9.2.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of proper capability or nonce checks in plugin endpoints. WordPress plugins must enforce authorization using functions such as current_user_can() and validate request integrity with check_ajax_referer() or wp_verify_nonce(). The ModelTheme Framework omits or misconfigures these checks on sensitive operations.
Attack Vector
Attackers issue HTTP requests directly to the vulnerable plugin endpoints. Because no authentication is required, exploitation can be automated at scale against WordPress sites running the plugin. The vulnerability mechanism involves invoking restricted plugin actions through accessible AJAX handlers or admin-ajax routes that lack server-side authorization enforcement. No proof-of-concept code is publicly available at the time of publication, and exploitation has not been observed in the wild.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-69303
Indicators of Compromise
- Unauthenticated HTTP POST or GET requests targeting /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action parameters tied to ModelTheme Framework handlers
- Anomalous request volume to ModelTheme Framework plugin endpoints from a single source IP
- Access log entries showing successful responses to plugin AJAX actions without prior authentication cookies
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all WordPress sites running the modeltheme-framework plugin and compare installed versions against 2.0.0
- Review web server access logs for requests to plugin paths returning HTTP 200 responses from unauthenticated sessions
- Deploy web application firewall rules that flag access to ModelTheme Framework AJAX actions lacking valid authentication context
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose WordPress logging to capture AJAX action invocations and associated user IDs
- Correlate plugin endpoint access patterns with known scanner user agents and IP reputation data
- Alert on outbound data transfer spikes following requests to vulnerable plugin endpoints
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-69303
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the ModelTheme Framework plugin to version 2.0.0 or later on all affected WordPress installations
- Audit user accounts and recent administrative actions for signs of unauthorized access
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php through web application firewall rules where feasible
Patch Information
The vendor addressed the vulnerability in ModelTheme Framework version 2.0.0. Site administrators should upgrade through the WordPress plugin dashboard or by replacing the plugin files manually. Refer to the Patchstack advisory for additional patch details.
Workarounds
- Disable the ModelTheme Framework plugin until version 2.0.0 or later can be installed
- Deploy WAF rules blocking unauthenticated requests to plugin-specific AJAX actions
- Apply IP allowlisting to administrative endpoints where business requirements permit
# Verify installed ModelTheme Framework version via WP-CLI
wp plugin get modeltheme-framework --field=version
# Update plugin to patched version
wp plugin update modeltheme-framework --version=2.0.0
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
