CVE-2025-12481 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) found in the WP Duplicate Page plugin for WordPress, maintained by ninjateam. This plugin allows users to duplicate posts and pages within WordPress. The vulnerability exists in the 'saveSettings' function, where the plugin fails to properly verify whether the user is authorized to modify plugin settings. Specifically, authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher can exploit this flaw to alter role capabilities managed by the plugin. By manipulating these capabilities, attackers can bypass restrictions and duplicate or view password-protected posts that normally require higher privileges. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.7. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, requires low privileges (authenticated Contributor), no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality with no effect on integrity or availability. No patches or known exploits are reported at the time of publication. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive content protected by WordPress's password protection mechanism, undermining confidentiality. The flaw is particularly concerning in environments where Contributor-level users are common and sensitive content is managed via password-protected posts. Since the plugin is widely used in WordPress sites globally, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to affected installations until remediated.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential information stored in password-protected WordPress posts. Organizations relying on WordPress for internal communications, content management, or customer-facing portals that use the WP Duplicate Page plugin are at risk. Attackers with Contributor-level access—often granted to content creators or junior staff—could escalate their access to view restricted content, potentially exposing intellectual property, personal data, or strategic information. This could result in data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), reputational damage, and operational disruptions. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, the primary concern is confidentiality loss. The risk is amplified in sectors with strict data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government. Moreover, the ease of exploitation by authenticated users increases the threat from insider threats or compromised accounts. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but should not lead to complacency.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately audit and restrict Contributor-level user permissions, limiting the number of users with such access to the minimum necessary. 2) Monitor and log changes to WordPress role capabilities and plugin settings to detect unauthorized modifications. 3) Temporarily disable or uninstall the WP Duplicate Page plugin if it is not essential, or restrict its use to trusted administrators only. 4) Apply principle of least privilege rigorously across WordPress user roles. 5) Stay alert for official patches or updates from ninjateam and apply them promptly once released. 6) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the 'saveSettings' function or related plugin endpoints. 7) Educate content contributors about the risks of phishing or credential compromise that could lead to exploitation. 8) Regularly back up WordPress content and configurations to enable recovery if unauthorized changes occur. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on user role management, monitoring, and proactive plugin control tailored to this vulnerability.