CVE-2025-4672 in Offsprout Page Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/31/2025
The Offsprout Page Builder plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation due to improper authorization placed on the permission_callback() function in versions 2.2.1 to 2.15.2. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Contributor-level access and above, to read, create, update or delete any user meta, including flipping their own wp_capabilities to administrator and fully escalate their privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2025
The CVE-2025-4672 vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Offsprout Page Builder WordPress plugin, affecting versions between 2.2.1 and 2.15.2. This vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization controls within the plugin's permission_callback() function, creating a significant security gap that allows authenticated attackers to bypass expected access controls. The flaw specifically targets the plugin's user meta management capabilities, enabling malicious actors with Contributor-level privileges or higher to manipulate user metadata in ways that fundamentally alter their access rights. The vulnerability operates at the core of WordPress's user role and capability system, where the improper implementation of authorization checks allows attackers to escalate their privileges from Contributor to Administrator status.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages WordPress's permission framework by exploiting the weakness in the permission_callback() function that should validate user capabilities before allowing access to sensitive operations. When an authenticated user with Contributor privileges attempts to perform user meta operations, the flawed authorization logic fails to properly verify whether the user has sufficient permissions to modify other users' metadata, particularly the wp_capabilities meta field that controls user roles and capabilities. This allows attackers to modify their own wp_capabilities meta value to include administrator-level permissions, effectively granting themselves full administrative control over the WordPress installation without requiring administrator credentials or additional attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected WordPress installation. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate any user's metadata, including other administrators, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The ability to modify wp_capabilities metadata means attackers can not only elevate their own privileges but also modify other users' roles, potentially creating backdoor accounts or disabling security measures. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of WordPress, where user roles and capabilities are designed to prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions, making it particularly dangerous for sites with multiple users or those that rely on role-based access controls for security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-4672 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw, as this represents the most direct solution to the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring user meta changes and implementing stricter access controls for plugin functionality. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts, as attackers can leverage existing user accounts to escalate privileges. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of user capabilities and meta data modifications, while also considering the implementation of web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious meta data manipulation attempts. Regular security assessments of third-party plugins remain critical, as this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor authorization flaws can create major security risks in content management systems.