CVE-2025-14156 is a critical security vulnerability identified in the Fox LMS plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions up to 1.0.5.1. The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-20) of the 'role' parameter within the REST API endpoint `/fox-lms/v1/payments/create-order`. This endpoint is intended for creating payment orders but fails to validate the 'role' parameter when creating new user accounts. As a result, an unauthenticated attacker can craft requests to this endpoint to create new users with arbitrary roles, including administrative privileges. This bypasses all authentication and authorization controls, enabling complete site takeover. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8, reflecting its critical nature with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability’s characteristics make it highly exploitable. The plugin is used in WordPress-based learning management systems, which often contain sensitive educational data and user information, increasing the stakes of exploitation. The lack of a patch at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate mitigation steps to prevent compromise.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be severe. Educational institutions, e-learning providers, and corporate training platforms using the Fox LMS plugin are at risk of unauthorized administrative access. Attackers could manipulate course content, exfiltrate sensitive user data including personal and payment information, disrupt LMS services, or deploy further malware and ransomware. The full site compromise could lead to reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR due to data breaches, and operational downtime. Given the criticality and ease of exploitation, organizations face a high risk of rapid compromise once the vulnerability becomes widely known or exploited. The impact extends beyond the LMS to the entire WordPress site and potentially connected systems, amplifying the threat landscape for European entities relying on this plugin.

Immediate mitigation involves upgrading the Fox LMS plugin to a patched version once available. Until a patch is released, organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict access to the `/fox-lms/v1/payments/create-order` REST API endpoint using web application firewalls (WAFs) or reverse proxies to allow only trusted IP addresses or authenticated users. 2) Disable or limit REST API access for unauthenticated users via WordPress settings or plugins that control REST API permissions. 3) Monitor WordPress logs for suspicious POST requests to the vulnerable endpoint, especially those attempting to set the 'role' parameter. 4) Implement strict user role assignment policies and audit existing user accounts for unauthorized administrators. 5) Employ intrusion detection systems to detect anomalous behavior related to user creation. 6) Educate site administrators on the risk and encourage immediate action to reduce exposure. These targeted mitigations go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific vulnerable endpoint and attack vector.