CVE-2025-1671 in Academist Membership Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/01/2025
The Academist Membership plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.1.6. This is due to the academist_membership_check_facebook_user() function not properly verifying a user's identity prior to authenticating them. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to log in as any user, including site administrators.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
The CVE-2025-1671 vulnerability affects the Academist Membership plugin for WordPress, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that undermines the security model of affected websites. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.1.6, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators who have implemented this membership solution. The flaw stems from insufficient user identity verification mechanisms within the plugin's authentication flow, specifically within the academist_membership_check_facebook_user() function that handles Facebook-based user authentication. This function fails to properly validate user credentials or verify the authenticity of authentication requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal authentication procedures and assume arbitrary user identities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the weak authentication verification process by manipulating the Facebook authentication flow to authenticate as any user account within the WordPress system. The flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and authentication integrity, as the plugin does not perform adequate checks to ensure that the Facebook user attempting to log in actually corresponds to the intended WordPress user account. This creates a scenario where an unauthenticated attacker can leverage the Facebook authentication endpoint to gain access to any user account, including those with administrative privileges. The vulnerability operates at the authentication layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring prior access credentials or knowledge of valid user accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges within WordPress installations that utilize the affected plugin. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain administrative access to the entire website, enabling them to modify content, install malicious plugins, steal sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised site as a launchpad for further attacks against other systems. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access, as administrators may be unaware of the compromise until significant damage has occurred. This vulnerability particularly affects websites that rely on Facebook authentication for membership management, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit WordPress sites with membership functionalities. The risk is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects all versions up to 1.1.6, meaning that even sites with recent updates may remain vulnerable if they have not patched to a fixed version.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-1671 should prioritize immediate patching of the Academist Membership plugin to the latest version that addresses the authentication verification flaw. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring authentication logs for suspicious activity and implementing multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers can leverage compromised accounts to maintain persistent access. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls and access restrictions to limit exposure and regularly audit their WordPress plugin installations to ensure all components are up to date with security patches. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authentication flaws across the entire WordPress ecosystem.