CVE-2025-8595 in Zakra Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2025
The Zakra theme for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized data modification due to a missing capability check on the welcome_notice_import_handler() function in all versions up to, and including, 4.1.5. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to import demo settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-8595 affects the Zakra theme for WordPress, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of affected installations. This issue stems from a fundamental missing capability check within the welcome_notice_import_handler() function, which operates across all versions up to and including 4.1.5. The flaw allows authenticated attackers who possess Subscriber-level privileges or higher to execute unauthorized data modification operations through the theme's demo settings import functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic insufficient authorization control pattern that aligns with CWE-285, which specifically addresses insufficient authorization in software systems. The absence of proper capability verification means that the function does not validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges before permitting the import of demo settings. This oversight creates a privilege escalation vector where low-privileged users can manipulate core theme configurations and potentially influence the entire website's operational parameters.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to WordPress site administrators and their users. Attackers with Subscriber access can exploit this flaw to import malicious demo configurations that may include harmful code injections, redirect URLs, or other malicious modifications that could compromise the site's integrity. The impact extends beyond simple data modification as these imported settings could alter the website's appearance, functionality, and security posture in ways that might not be immediately apparent to administrators. The vulnerability affects the theme's welcome notice functionality, which typically serves as a user onboarding mechanism, making it particularly insidious as it operates within expected administrative workflows.
The threat landscape surrounding this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" through the exploitation of application vulnerabilities to gain higher privileges. Additionally, it relates to T1566, which covers "Phishing" as attackers might leverage this vulnerability to manipulate users into performing actions that result in unauthorized modifications. Organizations running affected versions of the Zakra theme face potential data compromise, service disruption, and reputational damage if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability. The impact is particularly severe given that the vulnerability affects the core theme functionality and operates within legitimate administrative interfaces.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate remediation through the upgrade to the latest available version of the Zakra theme that addresses this capability check deficiency. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of theme-related administrative activities and consider restricting user privileges where possible. The implementation of proper capability checks, as defined by WordPress coding standards and security best practices, should be enforced throughout all theme functions that handle sensitive data operations. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar authorization gaps in other themes and plugins that may pose comparable risks to the WordPress ecosystem.