CVE-2025-23528
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in the Wouter Dijkstra DD Roles WordPress plugin allows attackers to escalate privileges due to incorrect privilege assignment. It affects all WordPress sites using DD Roles plugin versions up to 4.1. Attackers could gain administrative access to vulnerable WordPress installations.
💻 Affected Systems
- Wouter Dijkstra DD Roles 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 full administrative privileges, install backdoors, steal sensitive data, deface the site, or use it for further attacks.
Likely Case
Attackers gain elevated privileges to modify content, install malicious plugins/themes, or access sensitive user data.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper access controls, monitoring, and least privilege principles are already implemented.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires some level of access to the WordPress site, but details are not publicly available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 4.1
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/dd-roles/vulnerability/wordpress-dd-roles-plugin-4-1-privilege-escalation-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find DD Roles plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. If no update, deactivate and delete the plugin immediately.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable DD Roles Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched version is available.
wp plugin deactivate dd-roles
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove DD Roles plugin completely from the WordPress installation.
- Implement strict access controls and monitor for unusual privilege changes in user accounts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins for DD Roles version 4.1 or earlier.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name=dd-roles --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify DD Roles plugin is either updated to version after 4.1 or completely removed.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected user role changes in WordPress logs
- Administrative actions from non-admin users
- Plugin activation/deactivation events
Network Indicators:
- Unusual admin panel access patterns
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful privilege escalation
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (event="user_role_changed" OR event="plugin_activated" OR user="*" AND action="administrative")