CVE-2025-5190
📋 TL;DR
The Browse As WordPress plugin up to version 0.2 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level permissions or higher to log in as any existing user, including administrators, if they know the target user's ID. This vulnerability exists due to improper authentication checking in the plugin's cookie validation function. WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Browse As 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
An attacker with subscriber access could escalate privileges to administrator, gaining full control over the WordPress site including content modification, plugin/theme installation, user management, and potential server access.
Likely Case
Authenticated attackers with minimal permissions (subscriber role) will gain administrative access to compromise the site, steal sensitive data, and potentially maintain persistence.
If Mitigated
With proper network segmentation and least privilege access, impact could be limited to the affected WordPress instance only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but is technically simple once authenticated. User IDs are often predictable or discoverable in WordPress.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 0.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/browse-as
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Locate 'Browse As' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and delete the plugin immediately.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Immediate Plugin Deactivation
allDeactivate the Browse As plugin to remove the vulnerable code path
wp plugin deactivate browse-as
Access Restriction
allRestrict access to WordPress admin area using IP whitelisting or web application firewall rules
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Deactivate and remove the Browse As plugin immediately
- Implement strict user role management and monitor for suspicious privilege escalation attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins for Browse As plugin version 0.2 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin get browse-as --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Browse As plugin is either updated to version 0.3+ or completely removed from the plugins directory📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Multiple successful logins from same IP with different user accounts in short timeframe
- User role changes from subscriber to administrator without admin action
- Access to admin-ajax.php or admin-post.php with suspicious cookie parameters
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing 'is_ba_original_user_COOKIEHASH' cookie manipulation
- Unusual authentication patterns to wp-login.php
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (event="user_login" OR event="role_change") AND user_role="administrator" AND previous_role="subscriber"