CVE-2025-2816 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Page View Count plugin for WordPress, specifically versions 2.8.0 through 2.8.4. The root cause is a missing authorization check (CWE-862) in the yellow_message_dontshow() function, which allows authenticated users with Subscriber-level privileges or higher to modify certain option values on the WordPress site without proper permission validation. This unauthorized modification capability can be exploited to update options that trigger site errors, leading to denial of service (DoS) conditions for legitimate users. Additionally, attackers can set specific options to true, such as enabling user registration, potentially altering site behavior in unintended ways. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring only low privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The impact affects integrity and availability, as attackers can manipulate site configuration and cause service disruption. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability's characteristics and high CVSS score (8.1) indicate a significant risk to WordPress sites using the affected plugin versions. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available or widely distributed, emphasizing the need for immediate attention by site administrators. The vulnerability is particularly critical because WordPress is a widely used CMS platform, and plugins like Page View Count are common, increasing the potential attack surface. Attackers with minimal privileges can leverage this flaw to escalate their impact beyond their intended access level, undermining site stability and trustworthiness.

For European organizations relying on WordPress websites with the Page View Count plugin, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to website availability and operational continuity. Exploitation could lead to denial of service, disrupting online services, customer interactions, and potentially e-commerce operations. The ability to alter configuration options such as enabling user registration could also lead to increased spam, unauthorized account creation, or further exploitation avenues. Given the prevalence of WordPress in small to medium enterprises, public sector websites, and various service providers across Europe, the impact could range from minor service interruptions to significant reputational damage and financial loss. Organizations in sectors with high reliance on web presence, such as media, retail, and government services, may experience amplified consequences. Furthermore, the ease of exploitation by low-privilege users means that even compromised or low-level accounts could be leveraged to disrupt services, increasing the threat from insider risks or automated attacks targeting subscriber accounts.

1. Immediate upgrade or patching: Monitor the plugin vendor's official channels for patches addressing CVE-2025-2816 and apply updates promptly once available. 2. Access control tightening: Restrict Subscriber-level account creation and review existing user roles to minimize the number of users with such privileges. 3. Plugin removal or replacement: If patching is delayed, consider disabling or uninstalling the Page View Count plugin temporarily to eliminate the attack vector. 4. Web application firewall (WAF) rules: Deploy custom WAF rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to invoke the yellow_message_dontshow() function or modify plugin options. 5. Monitoring and alerting: Implement monitoring for unusual changes in WordPress option values, especially those related to registration settings or error-inducing configurations. 6. Harden WordPress security: Enforce strong authentication mechanisms, limit plugin installations to trusted sources, and regularly audit user permissions. 7. Backup and recovery: Maintain recent backups of site configurations and content to enable rapid restoration in case of successful exploitation. 8. Incident response readiness: Prepare for potential denial of service incidents by establishing response procedures and communication plans.