CVE-2025-12085 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) found in the ELEX WordPress HelpDesk & Customer Ticketing System plugin, versions up to and including 3.3.1. The issue stems from the absence of a capability check in the 'eh_crm_settings_empty_trash' function, which is responsible for emptying the ticket trash within the plugin. This missing authorization allows any authenticated user with at least Subscriber-level privileges to invoke this function and empty the ticket trash, an action that should be restricted to higher-privileged roles such as administrators or support managers. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond authentication, and the attack vector is network-based (remote). The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting low complexity and low privileges required but limited impact confined to integrity (unauthorized modification of ticket data). There is no impact on confidentiality or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been published as of the vulnerability disclosure date (November 21, 2025). The vulnerability could disrupt customer support operations by allowing unauthorized users to delete ticket data, potentially causing loss of important customer communication records and complicating incident resolution processes. The plugin is used primarily in WordPress environments, which are widely adopted by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and customer service departments globally.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-12085 is the unauthorized modification of customer support ticket data, which can lead to operational disruptions and loss of critical customer communication history. This can degrade service quality, delay issue resolution, and damage customer trust. While the vulnerability does not expose sensitive data directly or cause system downtime, the integrity compromise of ticket records can have regulatory implications, especially under GDPR, where accurate record-keeping and data integrity are important. Organizations relying on the affected plugin for customer support workflows may face challenges in auditability and compliance if ticket data is maliciously or accidentally deleted. The ease of exploitation by low-privileged users increases the risk, particularly in environments with many users assigned Subscriber or Contributor roles. This vulnerability could be leveraged by insider threats or compromised low-level accounts to disrupt support operations. European SMEs and enterprises using WordPress-based helpdesk solutions should be vigilant, as the plugin is popular in these sectors. The impact is more operational and reputational than directly financial or data breach-related.

1. Immediately audit all WordPress user roles and permissions to ensure that Subscriber-level users are limited to trusted individuals only. 2. Temporarily restrict or disable the ELEX HelpDesk plugin's ticket trash emptying functionality for low-privileged users by applying custom code filters or role-based access controls until an official patch is released. 3. Monitor WordPress user activity logs for unusual ticket trash emptying actions, especially from Subscriber or Contributor accounts. 4. Implement strict user account management policies, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users with access to the WordPress admin area. 5. Regularly back up ticket data and WordPress databases to enable recovery in case of unauthorized deletions. 6. Stay informed about updates from the plugin vendor and apply patches promptly once available. 7. Consider isolating the WordPress HelpDesk plugin environment or using web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable function. 8. Educate users about the risks of privilege escalation and the importance of safeguarding their credentials.