CVE-2025-14395 in Popover Windows Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2025
The Popover Windows plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on multiple ajax actions (e.g., pop_submit, poptheme_submit) in all versions up to, and including, 1.2. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to modify the plugin's settings and content.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-14395 affects the Popover Windows plugin for WordPress, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of affected websites. This issue stems from the absence of proper capability checks within the plugin's ajax handling mechanisms, specifically targeting the pop_submit and poptheme_submit actions. The flaw exists across all versions of the plugin up to and including version 1.2, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators who have not yet updated their installations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows authenticated attackers with subscriber-level privileges or higher to exploit the plugin's functionality for unauthorized data modification, effectively bypassing the intended access controls that should protect plugin settings and content from unauthorized changes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the plugin's ajax endpoints which fail to validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary permissions to perform the requested operations. When an attacker with subscriber-level access or higher makes requests to the vulnerable ajax actions, the plugin processes these requests without verifying the user's capability to modify the plugin's configuration or content. This missing authorization check creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation within the plugin's administrative functions. The flaw aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and specifically demonstrates how the absence of capability checks in web applications can lead to unauthorized modifications of system resources. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability can be exploited by attackers who have already gained access to a subscriber account, potentially through credential compromise or social engineering attacks, allowing them to manipulate the plugin's behavior and potentially affect the entire website's user experience and security configuration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it can enable attackers to alter the plugin's behavior in ways that may compromise website security or functionality. An attacker could modify the plugin's settings to redirect users to malicious websites, alter the content displayed in popups, or potentially create backdoors within the plugin's configuration. This type of unauthorized modification can have cascading effects on website integrity and user trust, particularly in environments where the plugin is used for important website features or user interactions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only minimal privileges, making it particularly attractive to attackers who may already have compromised subscriber accounts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1546 Event Triggered Execution, as attackers can leverage existing accounts to execute malicious modifications through legitimate plugin interfaces. The vulnerability also represents a significant concern for compliance and audit requirements, as unauthorized modifications to website content and configuration may violate security policies and regulatory standards.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately update to the latest version of the Popover Windows plugin where the capability checks have been implemented. The recommended mitigation strategy involves not only updating the plugin but also implementing additional monitoring and access control measures to detect unauthorized modifications to plugin configurations. Administrators should review user permissions and ensure that only trusted users have subscriber-level access or higher, as the vulnerability can be exploited by users with minimal privileges. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in ajax requests to the plugin endpoints, and regular security audits should verify that plugin configurations have not been tampered with. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and capability checking in web applications, particularly in plugins that handle user-generated content or administrative functions, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for robust access control mechanisms in all web application components.