CVE-2025-3918 in Job Listings Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2025
The Job Listings plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation due to improper authorization within the register_action() function in versions 0.1 to 0.1.1. The plugin’s registration handler reads the client-supplied $_POST['user_role'] and passes it directly to wp_insert_user() without restricting to a safe set of roles. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to elevate their privileges to that of an administrator.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2025
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2025-3918 affects the Job Listings plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions 0.1 through 0.1.1. This privilege escalation vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization controls within the plugin's register_action() function, creating a critical security gap that allows unauthenticated attackers to assume administrative privileges. The flaw exists in how the plugin processes user registration requests, where it directly accepts and utilizes client-supplied role parameters without proper validation or sanitization. This represents a fundamental failure in input validation and access control mechanisms that violates core security principles.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the plugin's registration handler where the $_POST['user_role'] parameter is read directly from user input and passed unchanged to WordPress's wp_insert_user() function. This direct parameter passing bypasses WordPress's built-in role validation and sanitization processes, allowing attackers to specify any role they desire during the registration process. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-285: Improper Authorization, which specifically addresses situations where systems fail to properly verify that an actor has sufficient privileges to perform a requested operation. The absence of role restriction validation creates a path for attackers to escalate from a standard user account to full administrative privileges, fundamentally compromising the entire WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it allows unauthenticated attackers to gain complete control over affected WordPress installations. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can modify or delete all content, install malicious plugins, modify user accounts, and potentially use the compromised site as a launching point for further attacks within the network. This privilege escalation capability directly maps to several tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly T1078 Valid Accounts and T1548 Abuse of Cloud Infrastructure, where attackers leverage compromised credentials to maintain persistent access and escalate privileges. The vulnerability also aligns with T1496 Resource Hijacking, as compromised systems can be used for malicious purposes including cryptocurrency mining or as part of botnet operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-3918 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves updating to a patched version of the Job Listings plugin where the register_action() function properly validates and restricts user roles to a safe set of predefined options. Organizations should implement role restriction mechanisms that validate incoming role parameters against a whitelist of allowed roles, ensuring that only legitimate user roles can be assigned through the registration process. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits of all installed plugins, implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top 10, specifically addressing injection flaws and improper error handling. Regular security monitoring and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect similar issues in other plugins and themes, while also enforcing strong access controls and monitoring user account creation activities to identify suspicious privilege escalation attempts.