CVE-2025-53293
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a missing authorization vulnerability in the Dashboard Widget Sidebar WordPress plugin that allows attackers to bypass access controls. It affects WordPress sites using this plugin from all versions up to 1.2.3. Attackers could potentially modify dashboard widgets without proper permissions.
💻 Affected Systems
- Dashboard Widget Sidebar 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
Unauthorized users could modify or delete dashboard widgets, potentially disrupting administrative interfaces or injecting malicious content visible to administrators.
Likely Case
Low-privileged users could gain unauthorized access to modify dashboard widget settings they shouldn't have permissions for.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and access controls, impact would be limited to authorized users only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires some level of user access, though potentially lower privileges than intended.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 1.2.3
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Dashboard Widget Sidebar'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or delete and install latest version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate dashboard-widget-sidebar
Restrict User Roles
allReview and minimize user accounts with dashboard access
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict user role management and principle of least privilege
- Monitor dashboard widget changes and user activity logs
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Dashboard Widget Sidebar → Version. If version is 1.2.3 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get dashboard-widget-sidebar --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is higher than 1.2.3 and test user role permissions for dashboard widget modifications.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized dashboard widget modifications
- User role escalation attempts
- Plugin file changes
Network Indicators:
- Unusual admin-ajax.php requests related to dashboard widgets
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" AND (event="widget_updated" OR event="plugin_edited") AND user_role!="administrator"