CVE-2025-12356 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the Tickera – Sell Tickets & Manage Events plugin for WordPress, present in all versions up to and including 3.5.6.4. The vulnerability exists because the plugin fails to perform a capability check on the 'wp_ajax_change_ticket_status' AJAX endpoint. This endpoint is responsible for changing the status of tickets or events, such as marking tickets as sold, canceled, or pending. Due to the missing authorization, any authenticated user with at least Subscriber-level privileges can invoke this endpoint and alter ticket or event statuses without having the appropriate permissions. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely, given that the attacker has a valid WordPress account with Subscriber or higher access. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting low complexity of attack (AC:L), network attack vector (AV:N), and limited impact on integrity (I:L) with no impact on confidentiality or availability. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. This vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt event operations, cause confusion among attendees, or manipulate ticket availability, potentially leading to financial or reputational damage for event organizers using the plugin.

For European organizations relying on the Tickera plugin for managing ticket sales and events, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized modification of event and ticket data. Attackers with low-level authenticated access can manipulate ticket statuses, potentially leading to fraudulent ticket sales, denial of legitimate ticket purchases, or disruption of event logistics. This can result in financial losses, customer dissatisfaction, and reputational harm. Since the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability, the primary concern is data integrity and operational disruption. Organizations in sectors such as entertainment, conferences, and cultural events are particularly at risk. The impact is heightened in Europe due to the widespread use of WordPress and event management plugins, combined with stringent data protection regulations that may hold organizations accountable for security lapses affecting customer data and services.

1. Immediately restrict access to the 'wp_ajax_change_ticket_status' AJAX endpoint by implementing server-side capability checks to ensure only authorized roles (e.g., administrators or event managers) can invoke it. 2. Upgrade the Tickera plugin to a patched version once available; monitor vendor announcements for updates. 3. In the interim, limit user roles and permissions within WordPress to minimize the number of users with Subscriber-level or higher access, especially on sites managing sensitive event data. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block unauthorized AJAX requests targeting this endpoint. 5. Conduct regular audits of user accounts and event/ticket status changes to detect suspicious activities. 6. Educate site administrators on the risks of granting unnecessary privileges and enforce the principle of least privilege. 7. Consider isolating event management functions on dedicated WordPress instances with stricter access controls to reduce attack surface.