CVE-2025-1402 in Event Tickets and Registration Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2025
The Event Tickets and Registration plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized loss of data due to a missing capability check on the 'ajax_ticket_delete' function in all versions up to, and including, 5.19.1.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to delete arbitrary Attendee tickets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-1402 affects the Event Tickets and Registration plugin for WordPress, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines data integrity within event management systems. This issue stems from a fundamental missing capability check within the plugin's ajax_ticket_delete function, which operates without proper access controls to verify user privileges before executing deletion operations. The vulnerability exists across all versions up to and including 5.19.1.1, making it a widespread concern for WordPress installations utilizing this popular event management solution. The flaw specifically targets authenticated users who possess Contributor-level access or higher, which represents a significant security risk as these user roles typically have limited administrative capabilities but can now perform destructive actions on event attendee data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper capability verification within the ajax_ticket_delete function, which should validate that the requesting user possesses adequate permissions before proceeding with ticket deletion operations. This missing validation creates an authorization bypass condition where users with Contributor-level privileges can exploit the function to remove attendee tickets without proper authorization. The flaw operates through the WordPress AJAX system, leveraging the existing plugin functionality to execute unauthorized deletions while maintaining the appearance of legitimate system operations. According to CWE standards, this represents a weakness in authorization mechanisms classified under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control and inadequate privilege checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, creating potential security implications for event organizers and their attendees. Attackers with Contributor-level access can manipulate event registration data, potentially disrupting event operations, compromising attendee information, and creating audit trail issues. The unauthorized deletion of attendee tickets could result in lost registrations, payment disputes, and service disruption for event participants. This vulnerability particularly affects event management platforms where multiple users with varying access levels collaborate, as it allows for privilege escalation through data manipulation rather than direct administrative access. The impact is amplified in environments where event registration data contains sensitive information or where automated systems depend on accurate attendee records for ticketing and access control.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate plugin updates to versions that include the required capability checks. The recommended approach involves verifying that all users with Contributor-level access or higher are properly authenticated and authorized before allowing access to sensitive operations. System administrators should conduct comprehensive access reviews to ensure that only authorized personnel possess the necessary privileges to manage attendee registrations. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual deletion patterns or unauthorized access attempts targeting the affected plugin functions. According to ATT&CK framework guidance, this vulnerability represents a potential privilege escalation vector that could be exploited as part of broader attack chains targeting WordPress environments. Security teams should also consider implementing additional controls such as database audit logging and automated alerting for deletion operations, while ensuring that proper backup and recovery procedures are in place to address potential data loss incidents. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control implementation and demonstrates how seemingly minor authorization gaps can create significant security risks in content management systems.