CVE-2025-12820 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) found 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 enforce authorization checks when updating its settings, meaning any authenticated user—regardless of their role or privileges—can modify the plugin’s configuration. This lack of proper access control can lead to unauthorized changes in how product variations are presented or managed on e-commerce sites. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, indicating a medium severity level. The vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N) shows that the attack can be executed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact is limited to integrity, as attackers cannot access confidential data or disrupt availability but can alter settings that may affect site behavior or customer experience. There are no known public exploits or patches available at the time of publication. The vulnerability was reserved in early November 2025 and published in December 2025 by WPScan, a reputable WordPress vulnerability database. This issue highlights the importance of proper authorization checks in WordPress plugins, especially those managing e-commerce functionalities.

For European organizations, especially those operating WooCommerce-based e-commerce platforms using the Pure WC Variation Swatches plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized configuration changes by any authenticated user. Such unauthorized changes could lead to incorrect product variation displays, misleading customers, or disrupting the shopping experience, potentially resulting in lost sales or reputational damage. While the vulnerability does not allow data theft or site downtime, the integrity compromise can affect business operations and customer trust. Organizations with multiple user roles or less restrictive user management policies are at higher risk, as any logged-in user—even those with minimal privileges—could exploit this flaw. The threat is more pronounced in sectors with high e-commerce activity such as retail, fashion, and consumer goods. Additionally, attackers could use this vulnerability as a stepping stone for further attacks by manipulating site behavior or planting misleading information.

1. Immediately restrict access to the Pure WC Variation Swatches plugin settings to only trusted administrator roles until a patch is available. 2. Monitor user activity logs for any unauthorized or unusual changes to plugin settings. 3. Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC) policies in WordPress to limit authenticated user capabilities. 4. Regularly update the plugin to the latest version once the vendor releases a patch addressing this vulnerability. 5. Consider deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block unauthorized attempts to modify plugin settings. 6. Conduct periodic security audits of WordPress plugins and user permissions to identify and remediate similar authorization issues. 7. Educate site administrators and users about the risks of unauthorized access and the importance of strong authentication practices.