CVE-2025-14173 identifies a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the Perfit WooCommerce plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.0.1. The vulnerability arises because the plugin's logout function, which is invoked via the actions function hooked to the admin_init WordPress action, lacks proper authorization checks. This design flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to invoke the logout function by manipulating the action parameter, thereby deleting arbitrary plugin settings without any authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability impacts the integrity of the plugin's configuration data, potentially disrupting e-commerce operations or causing misconfigurations that could lead to further security issues. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and affects only integrity (I:L) without impacting confidentiality or availability. No patches are currently linked, and no exploits are known in the wild, but the vulnerability's presence in a widely used e-commerce plugin makes it a concern. The vulnerability's exploitation could be automated and performed remotely, increasing the risk for affected sites.

For European organizations, especially those operating e-commerce platforms on WordPress using the Perfit WooCommerce plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk to the integrity of their online store configurations. Attackers could delete or alter plugin settings, potentially disrupting payment processing, product listings, or other critical e-commerce functionalities. This could lead to operational downtime, loss of sales, and reputational damage. Although the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive customer data or cause denial of service, the indirect effects on business continuity and trust could be significant. Organizations relying on this plugin without proper compensating controls are at risk. The impact is heightened in sectors with high e-commerce dependency such as retail, travel, and digital services across Europe.

1. Monitor for updates from the Perfitdev vendor and apply patches promptly once released to address the missing authorization checks. 2. Until an official patch is available, implement custom authorization checks in the plugin code or via WordPress hooks to ensure only authenticated and authorized users can invoke the logout function or modify plugin settings. 3. Restrict access to the admin_init hook or filter requests with suspicious action parameters at the web application firewall (WAF) or reverse proxy level. 4. Enable detailed logging and monitoring of admin_init actions and plugin setting changes to detect unauthorized attempts. 5. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans on WordPress installations to identify the presence of vulnerable plugin versions. 6. Educate site administrators on the risks of installing unverified plugins and maintaining up-to-date software. 7. Consider isolating critical e-commerce components or using role-based access controls to limit the impact of potential exploits.