CVE-2025-50039
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a missing authorization vulnerability in the VG WORT METIS WordPress plugin that allows attackers to bypass access controls. Attackers can exploit incorrectly configured security levels to perform unauthorized actions. All WordPress sites running VG WORT METIS version 2.0.0 or earlier are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- VG WORT METIS 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 compromise of the WordPress site through privilege escalation, allowing attackers to modify content, install malicious plugins, or take full administrative control.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to protected functionality, potentially allowing content modification, data exposure, or limited administrative actions depending on the specific broken access control.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper authorization checks in place, limiting users to their intended permissions and preventing privilege escalation.
🎯 Exploit Status
While no public proof-of-concept exists, missing authorization vulnerabilities typically have low exploitation complexity once the vulnerable endpoints are identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 2.0.0
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/vgw-metis/vulnerability/wordpress-vg-wort-metis-2-0-0-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 VG WORT METIS and click 'Update Now' if available. 4. If no update is available, deactivate and remove the plugin, then install the latest version from the WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable VG WORT METIS plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate vgw-metis
Restrict plugin access via .htaccess
linuxAdd access restrictions to the plugin directory
<FilesMatch "\.(php|inc)$">
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
</FilesMatch>
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit who can access the WordPress admin interface
- Enable WordPress security plugins that monitor for unauthorized access attempts and privilege escalation
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins for VG WORT METIS version 2.0.0 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin get vgw-metis --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify VG WORT METIS plugin version is greater than 2.0.0 in WordPress admin panel📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized access attempts to admin-ajax.php or other WordPress endpoints
- Unexpected user privilege changes in WordPress user logs
- Access to VG WORT METIS plugin functionality from unauthorized users
Network Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to WordPress admin endpoints from unauthorized IPs
- Traffic patterns suggesting privilege escalation attempts
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("vgw-metis" OR "VG WORT") AND ("unauthorized" OR "permission denied" OR "admin-ajax.php")