The Post Type Switcher plugin for WordPress, developed by johnjamesjacoby, suffers from an authorization bypass vulnerability classified as CWE-639 (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key). This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 4.0.0. The root cause is the lack of proper validation on a user-controlled key parameter that controls the post type switching functionality. Authenticated users with Author-level privileges or higher can exploit this flaw to modify the post type of arbitrary posts and pages they do not own, including those created by administrators. This unauthorized modification can disrupt the website’s content structure, leading to broken navigation paths and negatively impacting search engine optimization (SEO). The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without user interaction beyond authentication, and the CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity and requires privileges equivalent to an Author role, which is common in multi-author WordPress sites. Although no public exploits have been reported, the vulnerability could be leveraged to cause significant operational disruption and content integrity issues on affected sites. No official patches or updates are listed yet, so mitigation may require temporary workarounds or access restrictions until a fix is released.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-12524 can be significant, especially for those relying on WordPress for corporate websites, blogs, or content management with multiple authors. Unauthorized post type changes can lead to content misclassification, broken site navigation, and SEO penalties, which can reduce website traffic and damage brand reputation. In sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, and government, where content integrity and availability are critical, this vulnerability could disrupt user experience and trust. Additionally, unauthorized content manipulation could be used as a vector for further attacks or misinformation. The requirement for Author-level access means insider threats or compromised accounts pose a realistic risk. Given the widespread use of WordPress across Europe, organizations that do not promptly address this vulnerability may face operational disruptions and potential compliance issues related to website integrity and availability.

1. Immediately restrict Author-level and higher user permissions to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of exploitation from compromised or malicious accounts. 2. Monitor and audit user activities related to post type changes to detect unauthorized modifications early. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to manipulate post types via the vulnerable parameter. 4. Temporarily disable or remove the Post Type Switcher plugin if feasible until an official patch is released. 5. Keep WordPress core and all plugins updated, and subscribe to security advisories from the plugin vendor and WordPress security teams for timely patch releases. 6. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users with Author-level access or higher to reduce the risk of account compromise. 7. Conduct regular security training for content authors and administrators to recognize and report suspicious activities. 8. Review and harden site permissions and roles to ensure least privilege principles are enforced.