CVE-2025-14170 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) found in the Vimeo SimpleGallery plugin for WordPress, maintained by stiand. The issue arises because the plugin's 'vimeogallery_admin' function, which is hooked into WordPress's 'admin_menu' action, lacks proper authorization checks. This flaw allows any authenticated user with Subscriber-level privileges or higher to invoke this function and modify plugin settings arbitrarily by manipulating the 'action' parameter. Since Subscriber-level users are typically considered low-privilege, this vulnerability effectively escalates their ability to alter plugin configurations without proper permission. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 0.2 of the plugin. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.3 (medium severity), with an attack vector of network (remote), low attack complexity, no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed. The impact primarily affects integrity, as attackers can change plugin settings, which could lead to further exploitation or disruption of site functionality. No known public exploits have been reported yet, and no patches are currently available, increasing the urgency for monitoring and mitigation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because WordPress sites often have multiple users with varying privilege levels, and this flaw allows lower-privileged users to perform unauthorized administrative actions within the plugin scope.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk to the integrity of WordPress sites using the Vimeo SimpleGallery plugin. Unauthorized modification of plugin settings could lead to site misconfiguration, potential exposure of sensitive data if settings control access or content display, or serve as a foothold for further attacks such as privilege escalation or malware deployment. Organizations relying on WordPress for public-facing websites, intranets, or e-commerce platforms could face reputational damage, operational disruption, or compliance issues if exploited. Given the medium severity and the fact that exploitation requires only Subscriber-level access, insider threats or compromised low-privilege accounts could leverage this vulnerability. The absence of patches means organizations must rely on compensating controls until updates are released. The impact is amplified in sectors with strict data protection regulations like GDPR, where unauthorized changes could lead to data breaches or non-compliance penalties.

1. Immediately restrict Subscriber-level user capabilities by reviewing and tightening WordPress user roles and permissions, ensuring that only trusted users have Subscriber or higher access. 2. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on WordPress admin areas, including logging and alerting on changes to plugin settings. 3. Disable or remove the Vimeo SimpleGallery plugin if it is not essential to reduce attack surface. 4. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the 'vimeogallery_admin' function or unusual 'action' parameter manipulations. 5. Monitor official plugin channels and security advisories for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on WordPress plugins and user privilege escalation paths. 7. Educate site administrators and users about the risks of privilege misuse and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to reduce the risk of account compromise.