CVE-2025-12820 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the Pure WC Variation Swatches WordPress plugin versions through 1.1.7. This plugin is used to enhance WooCommerce product variation displays by adding swatches for color, size, or other attributes. The vulnerability arises because the plugin does not verify whether an authenticated user has the appropriate permissions before allowing them to update its settings. Consequently, any authenticated user, including low-privileged roles such as subscribers or customers, can modify the plugin configuration. This could lead to unauthorized changes that might disrupt the user experience, alter product displays, or potentially be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain. The vulnerability does not appear to allow direct code execution or data exfiltration but compromises the integrity of the plugin’s configuration. No CVSS score has been assigned yet, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability was published on December 20, 2025, with the WPScan team as the assigner. The absence of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be available, emphasizing the need for interim mitigation strategies.

For European organizations, especially those operating e-commerce platforms on WordPress with WooCommerce, this vulnerability could allow unauthorized users to alter product variation displays or other plugin settings, potentially causing customer confusion, loss of sales, or reputational damage. While it does not directly expose sensitive data or enable remote code execution, unauthorized configuration changes can degrade site integrity and availability. Attackers might also use this vulnerability as a foothold to escalate privileges or conduct further attacks within the environment. The impact is particularly relevant for businesses relying heavily on online sales and customer trust. Disruption of product presentation can lead to decreased user confidence and financial losses. Additionally, compliance with data protection and e-commerce regulations in Europe may be affected if the vulnerability leads to broader security incidents.

1. Restrict WordPress user roles strictly to the minimum necessary privileges, ensuring that only trusted administrators can access plugin settings. 2. Implement monitoring and alerting for changes to plugin configurations or unusual activity by authenticated users. 3. Temporarily disable or restrict access to the Pure WC Variation Swatches plugin settings page for non-administrative users until a patch is released. 4. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to remove or downgrade unnecessary accounts. 5. Follow the plugin vendor’s updates closely and apply patches immediately once available. 6. Consider using Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious requests targeting plugin settings endpoints. 7. Educate site administrators and users about the risks of unauthorized configuration changes and enforce strong authentication mechanisms.