CVE-2025-9331 in Spacious Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2025
The Spacious theme for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the 'welcome_notice_import_handler' function in all versions up to, and including, 1.9.11. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to import demo data into the site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-9331 affects the Spacious theme for WordPress, a widely used theme that has been found to contain a critical security flaw in its handling of demo data imports. This vulnerability stems from a missing capability check within the 'welcome_notice_import_handler' function, which is present in all versions of the theme up to and including version 1.9.11. The flaw represents a significant security weakness that undermines the principle of least privilege and proper access control mechanisms that should govern administrative operations within WordPress systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper authorization verification before allowing demo data import operations. When an authenticated user accesses the theme's import handler function, the system fails to verify whether the user possesses the necessary administrative privileges required to perform such operations. This missing capability check creates an exploitable condition where users with minimal privileges, specifically subscribers and above, can leverage this function to import demo content into the WordPress installation. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level, where the theme's code does not properly validate user permissions before executing potentially destructive actions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious threat to WordPress site security and integrity. An authenticated attacker with subscriber-level access can exploit this flaw to modify the site's content and configuration through the import of demo data, which may include malicious code, unwanted pages, posts, or theme settings. This capability allows for potential data corruption, unauthorized content modification, and could serve as a vector for more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or persistent backdoor establishment. The impact extends beyond simple data modification to include potential compromise of the entire WordPress installation, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities or when the attacker gains access to higher privilege accounts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-863, which addresses "Incorrect Authorization," and represents a clear violation of proper access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through legitimate system tools, as attackers can use the theme's import functionality to establish unauthorized modifications. Organizations using the Spacious theme in version 1.9.11 or earlier should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched version of the theme, implementing role-based access controls to limit subscriber capabilities, and monitoring for unauthorized import activities. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious import operations and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to administrative functions within the WordPress environment. The recommended mitigation strategy includes immediate patching of the theme to version 1.9.12 or later, where the missing capability check has been implemented, alongside comprehensive security audits of the WordPress installation to identify any potential unauthorized modifications that may have occurred through exploitation of this vulnerability.