CVE-2025-11168
📋 TL;DR
The Mementor Core WordPress plugin has a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher to switch to administrator accounts using the switch back functionality. This affects all WordPress sites using Mementor Core plugin versions up to 2.2.5. Attackers can gain full administrative control of vulnerable WordPress installations.
💻 Affected Systems
- Mementor Core WordPress Plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete site compromise where attackers gain administrator access, install backdoors, deface websites, steal sensitive data, or use the site for further attacks.
Likely Case
Attackers gain administrative privileges, modify site content, install malicious plugins/themes, or create new administrator accounts for persistence.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper access controls, monitoring, and least privilege principles are already implemented.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is straightforward once an attacker has any valid user account.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.2.6 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/mementor-core/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Mementor Core plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and delete plugin, then install fresh version 2.2.6+ from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Mementor Core Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched version can be installed.
wp plugin deactivate mementor-core
Restrict User Registration
allDisable new user registration to prevent attackers from creating accounts to exploit this vulnerability.
Navigate to Settings → General in WordPress admin and uncheck 'Anyone can register'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls and monitor all user role changes
- Disable the Mementor Core plugin completely and use alternative functionality
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for Mementor Core version. If version is 2.2.5 or lower, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name=mementor-core --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Mementor Core plugin version is 2.2.6 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected user role changes from subscriber/author to administrator
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful login with privilege escalation
- User switching activity in WordPress logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to user switching endpoints without proper authorization
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("user_role_changed" OR "switched_to" OR "set_current_user")