The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-15527 affects the WP Recipe Maker plugin for WordPress, specifically versions up to and including 10.2.2. The root cause lies in the api_get_post_summary function, which lacks sufficient access control checks on which posts can be retrieved by authenticated users. This flaw allows attackers with Contributor-level privileges or higher to bypass normal WordPress permission restrictions and extract data from posts they should not be able to access. This includes posts marked as private, password-protected, or drafts, which are typically restricted to higher privilege roles. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, indicating exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, requires low attack complexity, and privileges at the Contributor level, but does not require user interaction. The impact is limited to confidentiality loss, with no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been published at the time of analysis. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to 10.2.2, which is widely used in WordPress installations for managing recipe content. Given WordPress's extensive use in Europe, this vulnerability poses a risk to organizations relying on this plugin for content management, especially those with multiple contributors or public-facing content workflows.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-15527 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential content managed within WordPress sites using the WP Recipe Maker plugin. This can lead to leakage of proprietary information, unpublished content, or personal data contained in private or draft posts. Such exposure could damage organizational reputation, violate data protection regulations like GDPR, and potentially aid further targeted attacks by revealing internal information. Since the vulnerability requires Contributor-level access, the risk is heightened in environments where multiple users have such privileges, including agencies, media companies, and collaborative platforms. The lack of impact on integrity or availability means the threat is confined to confidentiality breaches. However, the ease of exploitation over the network without user interaction increases the likelihood of exploitation if attackers gain contributor credentials through phishing or credential stuffing. Organizations with high-value content or sensitive unpublished data are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known exploits suggests a window of opportunity for proactive mitigation before widespread abuse occurs.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should first audit and restrict Contributor-level access to only trusted users, minimizing the attack surface. Implement strict role-based access controls and regularly review user permissions within WordPress. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or removing the WP Recipe Maker plugin if it is not critical to operations. Alternatively, implement custom access control logic via WordPress hooks or third-party plugins to enforce stricter post access restrictions, especially for private, draft, or password-protected content. Monitor WordPress and plugin update channels closely for the release of a security patch and apply it promptly. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all user accounts with Contributor or higher privileges to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Conduct regular security training to prevent phishing attacks that could lead to unauthorized access. Additionally, monitor logs for unusual access patterns to posts and API endpoints related to WP Recipe Maker. Consider deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious API requests targeting the vulnerable function.