CVE-2025-1682
📋 TL;DR
The Cardealer WordPress theme allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access to escalate privileges by modifying default user roles. This vulnerability affects WordPress sites using Cardealer theme versions 1.6.4 and earlier. Attackers can gain administrative access without proper authorization.
💻 Affected Systems
- Cardealer WordPress Theme
⚠️ 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 gain full administrative control over the WordPress site, allowing them to install malicious plugins, modify content, steal data, or establish persistent backdoors.
Likely Case
Attackers elevate their privileges to administrator level, then modify site settings, inject malicious code, or create additional admin accounts for persistence.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and monitoring, impact is limited to unauthorized role changes that can be detected and reverted quickly.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access with at least subscriber privileges. Attackers need to understand WordPress user role management.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 1.6.4
Vendor Advisory: https://webtemplatemasters.com/cardealer/changelog/#v165
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Appearance > Themes. 3. Check if Cardealer theme is active. 4. Update theme to latest version via WordPress updates or manual upload. 5. Verify theme version is above 1.6.4.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable vulnerable function via plugin
WordPressAdd capability check to prevent unauthorized access to save_settings function
Add to theme's functions.php or custom plugin: add_filter('user_has_cap', 'restrict_role_changes', 10, 4); function restrict_role_changes($allcaps, $caps, $args, $user) { if (in_array('edit_users', $caps)) { if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) { $allcaps['edit_users'] = false; } } return $allcaps; }
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Temporarily switch to default WordPress theme (Twenty Twenty-Four)
- Remove subscriber-level user accounts or restrict registration
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Appearance > Themes > Cardealer theme details for version number. If version is 1.6.4 or lower, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
WordPress admin: Appearance > Themes > Cardealer details, or check /wp-content/themes/cardealer/style.css for Version: lineVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify theme version is above 1.6.4. Test with subscriber account attempting to access user role settings - should receive 'Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page.'📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- WordPress user role change events from non-admin users
- Multiple failed capability checks for 'edit_users'
- User privilege escalation attempts in audit logs
Network Indicators:
- POST requests to admin-ajax.php or theme-specific endpoints with role modification parameters from non-admin IPs
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (event="user_role_changed" OR event="capability_check_failed") AND user_role!="administrator"