Overview
In the current cybersecurity landscape, the latest vulnerability to gain attention is CVE-2025-5288. This vulnerability is found in the REST API | Custom API Generator For Cross Platform And Import Export In WP plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability carries substantial weight because it could potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage, making it a significant risk to websites running WordPress with this plugin installed. The vulnerability is of particular concern because it allows unauthenticated attackers to create a new user with full Administrator privileges.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-5288
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise, Data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
REST API | Custom API Generator For Cross Platform And Import Export In WP plugin | 1.0.0 to 2.0.3
How the Exploit Works
The exploit leverages a missing capability check on the process_handler() function in the said plugin. This missing check allows an attacker to POST an arbitrary import_api URL, import specially crafted JSON, and thereby create a new user with full Administrator privileges. The exploit does not require any user interaction or privileges, making it especially dangerous.
Conceptual Example Code
The following conceptual code shows a potential HTTP request an attacker could use to exploit this vulnerability:
POST /import_api HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{
"user": {
"role": "Administrator",
"username": "attacker",
"email":"attacker@example.com",
"password":"verystrongpassword"
}
}In this conceptual example, the attacker sends a POST request to the ‘import_api’ endpoint of the vulnerable application. The JSON payload includes a new user with the ‘Administrator’ role. If successful, this would create a new Administrator user on the target WordPress site.
Mitigation
To mitigate the vulnerability, apply the vendor patch as soon as it is available. If the patch is not yet available, use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation method. Always ensure that your systems are up-to-date and that you practice good cybersecurity hygiene. This includes using strong, unique passwords, and regularly reviewing user privileges.