CVE-2025-12391 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the Restrictions for BuddyPress plugin for WordPress, maintained by seventhqueen. The vulnerability exists in the handle_optin_optout() function, which manages user tracking opt-in and opt-out preferences. Due to the absence of a capability check, unauthenticated attackers can invoke this function remotely to alter tracking settings without any privilege or user interaction. This flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.5.2 of the plugin. The vulnerability does not expose confidential data nor does it allow denial of service, but it compromises the integrity of tracking preferences, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate user consent states. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and an impact limited to integrity. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no active exploitation has been reported. The plugin is used in WordPress environments that integrate BuddyPress, a social networking extension, which is popular among community and membership sites. The vulnerability could be leveraged to undermine user privacy controls and compliance with data protection regulations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to user privacy and regulatory compliance, particularly under GDPR, which mandates strict user consent management for tracking and data processing. Unauthorized modification of tracking opt-in/out states could lead to non-compliance, fines, and reputational damage. While the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or disrupt service availability, the integrity compromise of user consent settings can undermine trust and lead to legal consequences. Organizations running community or membership sites on WordPress with BuddyPress and the affected plugin are at risk. Attackers could manipulate tracking preferences to enable tracking without user consent or disable tracking to evade analytics, impacting business intelligence. The lack of authentication and ease of exploitation increase the likelihood of automated attacks. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild suggests limited immediate threat but underscores the need for proactive mitigation.

1. Monitor the seventhqueen plugin repository and WordPress security advisories closely for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-12391 and apply them promptly. 2. Until a patch is available, implement custom authorization checks by modifying the plugin code to enforce capability verification in the handle_optin_optout() function, ensuring only authorized users can change tracking settings. 3. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block unauthorized requests targeting the vulnerable function or related endpoints. 4. Restrict access to the plugin’s opt-in/out functionality by IP whitelisting or requiring authentication at the web server or application level. 5. Conduct regular audits of user tracking preferences and logs to detect suspicious changes indicative of exploitation. 6. Educate site administrators about the vulnerability and encourage minimizing plugin usage or replacing it with alternatives that have robust authorization controls. 7. Review and update privacy policies and consent management processes to mitigate regulatory risks in case of unauthorized tracking preference modifications.