CVE-2025-48164 in SureDash Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2025
Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability in Brainstorm Force SureDash allows Privilege Escalation. This issue affects SureDash: from n/a through 1.0.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2025
The Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability in Brainstorm Force SureDash represents a critical access control flaw that enables unauthorized privilege escalation within the plugin ecosystem. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-276 category of Insecure Default Permissions, where the system fails to properly enforce authorization checks during privilege assignment operations. The issue manifests when users with lower privileges can manipulate the system to gain elevated access rights, fundamentally undermining the security model of the application.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs through improper validation of user roles and capabilities within the SureDash plugin architecture. When the system processes privilege assignment requests, it fails to adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary authorization level to perform such operations. This weakness allows malicious actors or compromised low-privilege accounts to exploit the vulnerability by manipulating internal permission flags or bypassing access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized elevation of privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating potential pathways for data breaches and system compromise. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can gain administrative access to the WordPress site, enabling them to modify content, install malicious plugins, change user permissions, and potentially exfiltrate sensitive data. The vulnerability affects all versions from the initial release through 1.0.3, indicating a persistent security gap that has not been adequately addressed in the plugin's development lifecycle. This affects organizations relying on SureDash for their website functionality, as the compromise of a single user account could lead to complete system takeover.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the latest available patch or update from Brainstorm Force that resolves the privilege assignment validation issue. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring of user access patterns and privilege changes to detect potential exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system resources. Security teams should conduct thorough privilege reviews and ensure that the principle of least privilege is enforced throughout the application's permission model.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper authorization design in web applications, particularly within content management systems where plugins often require elevated permissions to function correctly. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor access control oversights can create significant security risks, emphasizing the need for regular security audits and code reviews focused on privilege validation mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security such as role-based access controls, multi-factor authentication, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising their digital infrastructure.