CVE-2025-11271 is a vulnerability identified in the Easy Digital Downloads plugin for WordPress, a popular e-commerce solution for digital goods. The issue stems from a security decision flaw (CWE-807) where the plugin's order verification process can be bypassed if the POST request includes the parameter verification_override=1. Because this parameter is attacker-controlled and the plugin unconditionally skips verification when it is present, an unauthenticated attacker can submit a forged Instant Payment Notification (IPN) to the system. This forged IPN is then treated as verified, even if verification is enabled on the site. However, exploitation requires the attacker to supply a valid PayPal transaction ID and have a customer account on the site, which restricts the attack to orders placed by the attacker themselves. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including version 3.5.2. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, requires no privileges or user interaction, and impacts integrity but not confidentiality or availability. No public exploits have been reported yet. The vulnerability could allow attackers to manipulate order statuses, potentially enabling fraudulent transactions or bypassing payment requirements. This undermines the integrity of the e-commerce process and could lead to financial losses and reputational damage for affected merchants.

For European organizations using the Easy Digital Downloads plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk of fraudulent order manipulation. Attackers with customer accounts can bypass payment verification, potentially allowing them to receive goods or services without proper payment. This can lead to direct financial losses and complicate accounting and reconciliation processes. Additionally, the integrity breach may erode customer trust and damage brand reputation. Since the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability, data breaches or service outages are unlikely. However, the financial and reputational impacts can be significant, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises relying heavily on digital sales. The risk is amplified in countries with widespread WordPress and Easy Digital Downloads usage, where attackers may find more targets. Regulatory compliance issues could also arise if fraudulent transactions are not properly detected and reported, particularly under European consumer protection laws and payment regulations.

1. Immediate mitigation involves disabling or filtering requests containing the verification_override parameter until a patch is available. 2. Monitor web server logs and application logs for suspicious POST requests that include verification_override=1 or unusual IPN activity. 3. Enforce strict validation of IPN messages, ensuring that verification cannot be bypassed by any client-supplied parameters. 4. Require multi-factor authentication for customer accounts to reduce the risk of account takeover, which could facilitate exploitation. 5. Limit the creation of customer accounts and monitor for fraudulent account creation patterns. 6. Apply the official security patch from the plugin vendor as soon as it is released. 7. Consider implementing additional transaction verification steps, such as manual review for high-value orders or anomaly detection systems. 8. Educate staff to recognize signs of order manipulation and establish incident response procedures for suspected fraud. 9. Regularly update WordPress and all plugins to the latest versions to minimize exposure to known vulnerabilities.