CVE-2025-3453
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in the Password Protected WordPress plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to extract all protected site content when the 'Use Transient' setting is enabled. It affects all WordPress sites using this plugin up to version 2.7.7. Attackers can bypass password protection and access restricted pages, posts, and WooCommerce content.
💻 Affected Systems
- Password Protected – Password Protect your WordPress Site, Pages, & WooCommerce Products – Restrict Content, Protect WooCommerce Category and more
⚠️ 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
All password-protected content becomes publicly accessible, including private pages, premium content, and restricted WooCommerce products/categories.
Likely Case
Unauthenticated attackers access protected content they shouldn't see, potentially exposing sensitive information or bypassing paywalls.
If Mitigated
If 'Use Transient' setting is disabled, the vulnerability cannot be exploited, maintaining normal password protection.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires the 'Use Transient' setting to be enabled. Attack is unauthenticated and simple to execute once the vulnerable configuration is identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.7.8
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3274358/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Password Protected' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update appears, manually update to version 2.7.8 or later from WordPress plugin repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable 'Use Transient' Setting
allTemporarily mitigates the vulnerability by disabling the affected functionality
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the 'Use Transient' setting in plugin configuration immediately
- Consider temporarily disabling the Password Protected plugin entirely if patching isn't possible
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins → Password Protected version. If version is 2.7.7 or earlier AND 'Use Transient' setting is enabled, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name=password-protected --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 2.7.8 or later in WordPress admin panel. Confirm 'Use Transient' setting can remain enabled without exposing protected content.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual access to password-protected URLs without authentication
- Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful access to protected content
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to protected content without authentication cookies
- Traffic patterns showing access to multiple protected pages in short timeframes
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" (url="*/wp-content/plugins/password-protected/*" OR plugin="password-protected") AND (event_type="authentication_bypass" OR status="200" AND url CONTAINS "protected-content")