CVE-2025-13680 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) found in the Tiger theme plugin developed by DirectoryThemes for WordPress. The issue exists in all versions up to and including 101.2.1. The root cause is that the plugin improperly allows authenticated users with Subscriber-level access or higher to invoke the $user->set_role() function, which updates user roles without adequate authorization checks. This flaw enables an attacker with minimal privileges to elevate their role to administrator, granting them full control over the WordPress site. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and low privileges required. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability’s nature makes it a prime target for attackers aiming to compromise WordPress sites. The lack of an official patch at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate risk mitigation steps. This vulnerability affects the core access control mechanisms of the plugin, undermining the security model of WordPress installations using Tiger. Attackers exploiting this flaw can manipulate site content, install malicious code, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt service.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat to websites using the DirectoryThemes Tiger plugin. Successful exploitation results in full administrative access, allowing attackers to compromise site confidentiality by accessing sensitive user data, integrity by modifying or deleting content, and availability by disabling the site or deploying ransomware. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, healthcare, and media that rely on WordPress for their web presence are particularly at risk. The breach of administrative privileges can lead to reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR due to data exposure, and operational disruptions. Given the widespread use of WordPress across Europe and the popularity of themes and plugins, the attack surface is substantial. The vulnerability’s ease of exploitation means that even less sophisticated attackers can cause severe damage, increasing the likelihood of targeted attacks against European entities. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the situation could rapidly deteriorate once exploit code becomes publicly available.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the DirectoryThemes Tiger plugin. Until an official patch is released, mitigate risk by disabling or uninstalling the Tiger plugin where feasible. Restrict user roles strictly, ensuring that only trusted users have Subscriber-level or higher access. Implement monitoring and alerting for any changes to user roles, especially unexpected privilege escalations. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block attempts to invoke the $user->set_role() function or suspicious privilege modification requests. Regularly back up WordPress sites and databases to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. Educate administrators and users about the risk and signs of exploitation. Once a patch is available, apply it promptly after testing in a controlled environment. Additionally, consider deploying multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts to reduce the impact of compromised credentials. Conduct penetration testing focused on privilege escalation vectors to validate the effectiveness of mitigations.