CVE-2025-1309
📋 TL;DR
The UiPress Lite WordPress plugin has a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated users with Subscriber-level access or higher to modify arbitrary WordPress options. Attackers can change the default user registration role to administrator and enable user registration, gaining full administrative control. All WordPress sites using UiPress Lite version 3.5.04 or earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- UiPress Lite 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 takeover where attackers gain administrative access, install backdoors, deface the site, steal data, or use the site for further attacks.
Likely Case
Attackers create administrator accounts for themselves, then use those privileges to install malicious plugins/themes, modify content, or exfiltrate sensitive data.
If Mitigated
If proper access controls and monitoring are in place, the attack might be detected before significant damage occurs, though cleanup would still be required.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but only at Subscriber level, which is the lowest WordPress user role. The technical complexity is low once authentication is obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version 3.5.05 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3249865/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find UiPress Lite and click 'Update Now' if available. 4. If automatic update isn't available, download version 3.5.05+ from WordPress.org and manually update. 5. Verify the plugin is updated to 3.5.05 or later.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable UiPress Lite plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate uipress-lite
Restrict user registration
allDisable new user registration in WordPress settings
Navigate to Settings → General → Membership → Uncheck 'Anyone can register'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove Subscriber role access by disabling user registration and reviewing existing low-privilege accounts
- Implement web application firewall rules to block requests to the vulnerable uip_save_form_as_option() function
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins → UiPress Lite version. If version is 3.5.04 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get uipress-lite --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify UiPress Lite shows version 3.5.05 or later in WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=uip_save_form_as_option
- Sudden changes to WordPress options like default_role or users_can_register
- New administrator account creation from unexpected IPs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests containing 'uip_save_form_as_option' in the request body
- Unusual admin-ajax.php requests from non-admin user accounts
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress_logs" AND (uri_path="/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" AND request_body="*uip_save_form_as_option*" OR message="*default_role*administrator*" OR message="*users_can_register*1*")