CVE-2025-12389
📋 TL;DR
The Import Export For WooCommerce WordPress plugin has an authorization bypass vulnerability that allows authenticated users with Subscriber-level access or higher to modify plugin settings. This affects all versions up to 1.6.2, potentially impacting thousands of WooCommerce sites.
💻 Affected Systems
- Import Export For WooCommerce 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
Attackers could modify critical plugin settings to disrupt e-commerce operations, alter export/import configurations, or potentially chain with other vulnerabilities for further compromise.
Likely Case
Malicious users with legitimate accounts could tamper with plugin functionality, causing operational issues or data integrity problems in WooCommerce stores.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, impact is limited to minor configuration changes that can be detected and reverted.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is technically simple - just missing capability check in update_setting() function.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.6.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/import-export-for-woocommerce/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find 'Import Export For WooCommerce'
4. Click 'Update Now' if update available
5. If no update available, download version 1.6.3+ from WordPress.org
6. Deactivate, delete old version, upload and activate new version
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Temporary Role Restriction
allTemporarily restrict Subscriber and other non-admin roles from accessing WordPress admin area
Use WordPress role management plugin or add capability restrictions via functions.php
Plugin Deactivation
linuxDeactivate the plugin until patched if not critically needed
wp plugin deactivate import-export-for-woocommerce
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized configuration changes
- Regularly audit user accounts and remove unnecessary Subscriber-level users
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check plugin version in WordPress admin → Plugins → Import Export For WooCommerce. If version is 1.6.2 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get import-export-for-woocommerce --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify version shows 1.6.3 or higher in WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=update_setting from non-admin users
- Unauthorized plugin setting changes in WordPress logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual admin-ajax.php requests from Subscriber-level user accounts
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "admin-ajax.php" AND "update_setting" AND NOT user_role="administrator"