CVE-2025-48142
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2025-48142 is an incorrect privilege assignment vulnerability in the Bookify WordPress plugin that allows authenticated users to escalate their privileges to higher-level roles like administrator. This affects all Bookify plugin installations from unknown versions through 1.0.9. Attackers can gain administrative control over WordPress sites running vulnerable versions.
💻 Affected Systems
- Bookify 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 compromise where attackers gain administrator access, install backdoors, steal sensitive data, deface the site, or use it as a platform for further attacks.
Likely Case
Attackers escalate privileges to administrator and take control of the WordPress site, potentially modifying content, adding malicious users, or installing additional plugins.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper access controls, monitoring, and least privilege principles are already implemented, though the vulnerability still provides unauthorized privilege escalation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires authenticated access (subscriber or higher). Privilege escalation vulnerabilities are commonly weaponized due to their high impact and relative ease of exploitation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.1.0 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/bookify/vulnerability/wordpress-bookify-1-0-9-privilege-escalation-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Bookify plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. Alternatively, download version 1.1.0+ from WordPress repository and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Bookify Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate bookify
Restrict User Registration
allDisable new user registration to limit attack surface
Settings → General → Membership: Uncheck 'Anyone can register'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls and monitor user role changes
- Deploy web application firewall with privilege escalation detection rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins → Bookify version. If version is 1.0.9 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get bookify --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Bookify plugin version is 1.1.0 or later in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected user role changes in WordPress logs
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful login with privilege escalation
- Administrator actions from previously low-privilege users
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to user role modification endpoints from non-admin users
- Unusual API calls to WordPress admin functions
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("user_role_changed" OR "promoted_to_admin" OR "set_role")