CVE-2025-12826 is a security vulnerability identified in the Custom Post Type UI plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.18.0. The root cause is a missing authorization check in the function cptui_process_post_type, which is responsible for handling the creation, modification, and deletion of custom post types within WordPress. Specifically, the plugin fails to verify whether the authenticated user has the necessary capabilities to perform these actions. As a result, any authenticated user with subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this flaw to add, edit, or delete custom post types under certain conditions. This bypass of authorization controls can lead to unauthorized modifications of website structure and content types, potentially impacting site integrity and availability. The vulnerability does not expose confidential data directly, but unauthorized changes could facilitate further attacks or disrupt site operations. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.8, categorized as medium severity, reflecting the need for authentication and the high attack complexity. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The lack of patch links suggests that a fix may not yet be available or is pending release from the vendor, webdevstudios.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to websites and web applications running WordPress with the Custom Post Type UI plugin installed. Unauthorized modification of custom post types can lead to defacement, misinformation, or disruption of web services, which can damage organizational reputation and trust. In sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, and media, where website integrity is critical, this could have significant operational and compliance implications. Additionally, attackers could leverage this flaw as a foothold for further exploitation or privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. Given the widespread use of WordPress across Europe, especially in small to medium enterprises and public sector websites, the potential impact is broad but depends on the presence of the vulnerable plugin and the level of user access controls implemented. The medium severity rating indicates moderate risk, but the ease of exploitation by low-privileged authenticated users increases the urgency for mitigation.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the Custom Post Type UI plugin and verify its version. Until an official patch is released, administrators should restrict subscriber-level user accounts from accessing areas where custom post types can be managed or consider temporarily disabling the plugin if feasible. Implementing strict role-based access controls and minimizing the number of users with subscriber or higher privileges can reduce the attack surface. Monitoring logs for unusual activity related to custom post type creation or modification is advised. Additionally, organizations should subscribe to vendor advisories for timely patch releases and apply updates promptly once available. Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable function may provide interim protection. Finally, educating site administrators about the risks and signs of exploitation can enhance detection and response capabilities.