CVE-2025-14367 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) found in the Easy Theme Options plugin for WordPress, developed by corsonr. The flaw exists in the eto_import_settings function, which lacks proper authorization checks, allowing any authenticated user with at least Subscriber-level privileges to import arbitrary plugin settings. This means that an attacker who has gained low-level access to a WordPress site can manipulate plugin configurations without further privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0 of the plugin. The attack vector is network-based, requiring no user interaction beyond authentication, and does not require elevated privileges beyond Subscriber. The impact primarily affects the integrity of the site’s configuration, as unauthorized changes to plugin settings can lead to misconfigurations, potential exposure of sensitive data, or enable further attacks. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.3 (medium severity), with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), no confidentiality impact (C:N), low integrity impact (I:L), and no availability impact (A:N). No public exploits are currently known, but the vulnerability was published on December 13, 2025, and is assigned by Wordfence. The lack of authorization checks is a common security oversight that can be exploited to alter plugin behavior, potentially undermining site security and stability.

For European organizations, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the integrity of WordPress sites using the Easy Theme Options plugin. Unauthorized import of plugin settings could lead to misconfiguration, enabling further exploitation such as privilege escalation, data leakage, or site defacement. Organizations relying on WordPress for their web presence, especially those with multiple users having Subscriber or higher roles, face increased risk. The impact on confidentiality and availability is minimal, but integrity compromise can disrupt business operations, damage reputation, and require costly remediation. Given the widespread use of WordPress across Europe, especially in small and medium enterprises, the vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to gain footholds in corporate websites or customer-facing portals. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits post-disclosure. Compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR may also be affected if unauthorized changes lead to data exposure.

1. Immediately restrict user roles and permissions to the minimum necessary, ensuring that only trusted users have Subscriber-level or higher access. 2. Monitor WordPress logs and plugin settings for unusual import activities or configuration changes. 3. Disable or uninstall the Easy Theme Options plugin if it is not essential to reduce attack surface. 4. Apply patches or updates from the vendor as soon as they become available; currently, no patch links are provided, so maintain vigilance for updates. 5. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block suspicious POST requests targeting the eto_import_settings parameter. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on WordPress plugins and user privilege management. 7. Educate site administrators and users about the risks of elevated privileges and the importance of strong authentication practices. 8. Consider isolating WordPress instances or using containerization to limit potential damage from compromised plugins.