CVE-2025-11171 is a vulnerability in the Chartify – WordPress Chart Plugin (versions up to 3.5.9) caused by missing authentication for critical functions. The plugin registers an AJAX action accessible via the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint that dispatches requests to administrative class methods based on a request parameter. Crucially, this AJAX action lacks nonce verification and capability checks, which are standard WordPress security mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can invoke sensitive functions. As a result, unauthenticated attackers can craft HTTP requests to this endpoint, specifying method names they have identified, to execute administrative functions without any authentication or user interaction. This flaw is classified under CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function), indicating that critical functionality is exposed without proper access control. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3, reflecting that it can be exploited remotely over the network without any privileges or user interaction, impacting the integrity of the affected system by allowing unauthorized administrative actions. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no official patches have been released yet. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including 3.5.9, which means any WordPress site using this plugin version is at risk. The attack surface is the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint, commonly used in WordPress for asynchronous requests, making it a high-value target for attackers. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized changes in plugin settings or other administrative operations, potentially compromising the integrity of the website or enabling further attacks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to WordPress-based websites that utilize the Chartify plugin. Unauthorized administrative access can lead to manipulation of chart data, defacement, or insertion of malicious content, undermining data integrity and trustworthiness of published information. While the vulnerability does not directly impact confidentiality or availability, the ability to execute administrative functions without authentication can facilitate further attacks, such as privilege escalation or deployment of backdoors. Organizations relying on WordPress for public-facing websites, internal dashboards, or reporting tools that use Chartify may experience reputational damage, data manipulation, or compliance issues if exploited. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe, especially in sectors like media, education, and small to medium enterprises, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of targets. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk, but the ease of exploitation and absence of authentication controls make it a likely target once exploit code becomes available. The impact is heightened in environments where administrative functions control critical business data or where website integrity is essential for operational trust.

Until an official patch is released, European organizations should implement several practical mitigations. First, restrict access to the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint by IP address or via authentication proxies to limit exposure to trusted users only. Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that detect and block suspicious AJAX requests targeting the Chartify plugin’s AJAX actions, especially those attempting to invoke administrative methods without proper authentication tokens. Review and audit plugin usage to identify if Chartify is installed and assess the version to prioritize remediation. Disable or remove the plugin if it is not essential to reduce attack surface. Monitor web server and WordPress logs for unusual admin-ajax.php requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. Educate site administrators about the vulnerability and encourage vigilance for unexpected administrative changes. Once available, promptly apply official patches or updates from the plugin vendor. Additionally, consider implementing WordPress security best practices such as enforcing strong administrator credentials, limiting plugin installations, and regular backups to enable recovery from potential compromise.