CVE-2025-11620 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) found in the 'Multiple Roles per User' WordPress plugin developed by jemoreto. This plugin allows assigning multiple roles to a single user, but in all versions up to and including 1.0, it lacks proper capability checks in the functions 'mrpu_add_multiple_roles_ui' and 'mrpu_save_multiple_user_roles'. Specifically, the plugin fails to verify that the authenticated user has sufficient privileges before permitting role modifications. As a result, any authenticated user with the 'edit_users' capability—which is commonly granted to editors or other privileged roles—can arbitrarily change any user's roles. This includes elevating a user to Administrator, thereby gaining full control over the WordPress site, or demoting Administrators to lower-privileged roles, disrupting site management. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without user interaction, and the CVSS v3.1 score is 7.2, indicating high severity. The attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity, requiring privileges but no additional user interaction. No patches or fixes have been linked yet, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. The vulnerability threatens the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of WordPress sites using this plugin, potentially allowing attackers to take over sites or disrupt administrative functions.

The impact of CVE-2025-11620 is significant for organizations running WordPress sites with the vulnerable 'Multiple Roles per User' plugin. Unauthorized role modifications can lead to privilege escalation, enabling attackers to gain Administrator access, which grants full control over the website, including content management, user management, plugin/theme installation, and potentially server-level access through further exploitation. This compromises confidentiality by exposing sensitive data, integrity by allowing unauthorized content or configuration changes, and availability by enabling attackers to lock out legitimate administrators or disrupt site operations. The vulnerability could be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts with 'edit_users' capability, making it a critical risk in multi-user environments such as corporate websites, e-commerce platforms, and content-heavy portals. The lack of known exploits suggests limited active exploitation currently, but the ease of exploitation and high impact make it a prime target for attackers once publicized. Organizations face risks of data breaches, defacement, and operational disruption if unmitigated.

To mitigate CVE-2025-11620, organizations should immediately audit user roles and capabilities to ensure that only fully trusted users have the 'edit_users' capability, minimizing the attack surface. Since no official patch is currently available, temporarily disabling or uninstalling the 'Multiple Roles per User' plugin is recommended until a fix is released. Alternatively, implement custom capability checks or use security plugins that can enforce stricter role management policies. Monitoring logs for unusual role changes or privilege escalations can help detect exploitation attempts. Employ the principle of least privilege rigorously across all WordPress users. Additionally, restrict administrative access to the WordPress backend via IP whitelisting or VPNs where feasible. Stay updated with vendor advisories for patches and apply them promptly once available. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious role modification requests targeting the vulnerable functions. Regular backups and incident response plans should be in place to recover from potential compromises.