CVE-2025-58613 in Posts Table with Search & Sort Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/03/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Barn2 Plugins Posts Table with Search & Sort allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels. This issue affects Posts Table with Search & Sort: from n/a through 1.4.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-58613 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Barn2 Plugins Posts Table with Search & Sort WordPress plugin. This security weakness manifests as an incorrectly configured access control mechanism that permits unauthorized users to bypass intended security boundaries. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions ranging from the initial release through 1.4.10, indicating a prolonged period during which the plugin remained susceptible to exploitation. The affected plugin is designed to provide table functionality for displaying posts with search and sorting capabilities, making it a common component in WordPress environments where content management and user interaction are critical.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions within the plugin's codebase. When users interact with the posts table functionality, the system should verify that the requesting user possesses appropriate authorization levels to access specific features or data. However, the plugin fails to implement proper access control checks, allowing malicious actors or unauthorized users to exploit the functionality without proper authentication. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where users with minimal permissions can access content or features typically restricted to administrators or authorized personnel. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the plugin's authorization mechanisms rather than underlying system vulnerabilities.
From an operational perspective, this missing authorization vulnerability presents significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain access to sensitive content, manipulate data displays, or potentially extract information that should remain restricted. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as it undermines the fundamental security model of the WordPress platform, particularly when the plugin is used in environments where user roles and permissions are carefully managed. Organizations relying on this plugin for content management may experience unauthorized access to draft posts, private content, or administrative features that should remain hidden from regular users. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests that it was not adequately addressed through previous updates, leaving systems exposed for extended periods.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) framework, where it aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Abuse Elevation of Privilege' tactic. Organizations must implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to the latest plugin version where the vulnerability has been patched, reviewing existing user roles and permissions to minimize potential impact, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all installed plugins. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper security testing and access control validation in plugin development, particularly for components that handle user interactions and content display functionality.