CVE-2025-12526 in Private Google Calendars Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2025
The Private Google Calendars plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the 'pgc_remove' action in all versions up to, and including, 20250811. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to reset the plugin's settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-12526 affects the Private Google Calendars plugin for WordPress, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of affected systems. This issue stems from a missing capability check within the plugin's codebase, specifically in the 'pgc_remove' action handler that processes administrative operations. The flaw exists across all versions of the plugin up to and including the 20250811 release, creating a persistent risk for WordPress installations that rely on this calendar management solution. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables authenticated attackers to manipulate core plugin configurations and potentially compromise the integrity of calendar data and associated user information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in access control enforcement within the WordPress plugin architecture. When an authenticated user with Subscriber-level privileges or higher attempts to trigger the 'pgc_remove' action, the plugin fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative permissions to perform such operations. This missing capability check creates an unauthorized modification vector that allows attackers to reset plugin settings without proper authorization. The flaw aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and represents a classic example of insufficient privilege validation in web applications. The vulnerability's operational impact is particularly concerning given that Subscriber-level users typically have minimal permissions within WordPress systems, making this a significant escalation of privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes WordPress installations to potential data integrity compromises and configuration manipulation attacks. Attackers who gain access to accounts with Subscriber-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw to reset the plugin's configuration settings, potentially disrupting calendar functionality, removing scheduled events, or altering access controls for calendar data. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that many WordPress installations maintain relatively permissive user access policies, and the vulnerability's impact extends to the broader calendar management ecosystem. This flaw can facilitate more complex attack chains where the initial unauthorized modification serves as a stepping stone for additional compromise activities, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities in the WordPress environment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including prompt plugin updates to versions that include proper capability checks and access controls. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of user permissions to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to accounts with elevated privileges. The implementation of additional security controls such as role-based access restrictions, network segmentation, and monitoring of administrative actions can provide defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of plugin versions and capability checks to prevent similar issues from persisting in the environment. Security teams should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain protection against known vulnerabilities in third-party components.