CVE-2025-48138
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a missing authorization vulnerability in the BERTHA AI WordPress plugin that allows attackers to bypass access controls. It affects all versions up to 1.12.11, potentially enabling unauthorized access to functionality. WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of the BERTHA AI plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- BERTHA AI WordPress plugin
📦 What is this software?
Bertha Ai by Bertha
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could gain administrative privileges, modify plugin settings, access sensitive data, or perform actions reserved for authenticated users.
Likely Case
Unauthorized users accessing functionality intended for authenticated users, potentially modifying AI settings or accessing limited administrative features.
If Mitigated
Proper access controls would prevent unauthorized access, limiting functionality to intended users only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Missing authorization vulnerabilities typically require minimal technical skill to exploit once the attack vector is identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 1.12.11
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/bertha-ai-free/vulnerability/wordpress-bertha-ai-1-12-11-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find BERTHA AI plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download latest version from WordPress repository and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable BERTHA AI plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate bertha-ai-free
Restrict plugin access via .htaccess
linuxAdd access restrictions to plugin directories
# Add to .htaccess in wp-content/plugins/bertha-ai-free/
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block unauthorized access attempts to BERTHA AI endpoints
- Monitor access logs for unusual activity targeting the BERTHA AI plugin and implement network segmentation
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → BERTHA AI version. If version is 1.12.11 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin list --name=bertha-ai-free --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After update, verify BERTHA AI plugin version is higher than 1.12.11 in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized access attempts to BERTHA AI plugin endpoints
- 403/401 errors followed by successful 200 responses to admin endpoints
- Unusual user agents accessing plugin-specific URLs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to /wp-content/plugins/bertha-ai-free/ endpoints from unauthenticated sources
- POST requests to admin-ajax.php with bertha_ai actions
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND (uri_path="/wp-content/plugins/bertha-ai-free/" OR uri_query CONTAINS "bertha_ai") AND response_code=200 AND user="-"