CVE-2025-59562
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes an authorization bypass vulnerability in Academy LMS WordPress plugin where attackers can access unauthorized resources by manipulating object references. It affects all Academy LMS installations up to version 3.3.4, potentially exposing sensitive user data and administrative functions.
💻 Affected Systems
- Academy LMS 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
Attackers could access administrative functions, modify course content, view sensitive student data, or escalate privileges to full system compromise.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to user profiles, course materials, or enrollment data through IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) attacks.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and input validation, impact limited to failed authentication attempts logged in system.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires authenticated user access but minimal technical skill to manipulate object identifiers.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version 3.3.5 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins
3. Find Academy LMS plugin
4. Click 'Update Now' if available
5. If no update available, download version 3.3.5+ from WordPress repository
6. Deactivate old plugin, upload new version, activate
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Temporary Access Restriction
allRestrict plugin access to trusted IP addresses only
# Add to .htaccess for Apache:
<IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
<RequireAny>
Require ip 192.168.1.0/24
Require local
</RequireAny>
</IfModule>
# Add to nginx config:
location /wp-content/plugins/academy/ {
allow 192.168.1.0/24;
allow 127.0.0.1;
deny all;
}
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable Academy LMS plugin immediately and use alternative learning management solutions
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block suspicious parameter manipulation patterns
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Academy LMS for version number. If version is 3.3.4 or lower, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get academy --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Academy LMS plugin version shows 3.3.5 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Multiple failed authorization attempts for different user IDs
- Access to sequential object IDs (e.g., /user/101, /user/102, /user/103)
- Unauthorized access to admin functions from non-admin accounts
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with manipulated ID parameters in URLs or POST data
- Unusual pattern of requests to plugin-specific endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND (uri_path="/wp-content/plugins/academy/*" OR user_agent="*Academy*LMS*") AND (status_code=403 OR status_code=200) | stats count by src_ip, uri_path