CVE-2025-32180 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) affecting the QuanticaLabs CSS3 Tooltips plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability arises due to improperly configured access control mechanisms within the plugin, allowing users with limited privileges (PR:L - Privileges Required: Low) to perform actions or access functionality that should be restricted. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N). The scope of the vulnerability is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component without affecting other system components. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, indicating a medium severity level. The impact primarily affects the integrity of the system (I:L), with no direct impact on confidentiality (C:N) or availability (A:N). Since the vulnerability involves missing authorization checks, an attacker with low-level privileges could potentially manipulate tooltip configurations or other plugin features in an unauthorized manner, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications or misuse of the plugin's functionality. The affected versions include all versions up to 1.8, with no specific version range provided. No patches or known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date (May 16, 2025). The vulnerability was reserved on April 4, 2025, and is tracked by Patchstack and CISA enrichment, indicating recognition by authoritative cybersecurity entities.

For European organizations, especially those relying on WordPress websites with the QuanticaLabs CSS3 Tooltips plugin installed, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized modification of tooltip content or related plugin settings. While the direct confidentiality and availability impacts are minimal, integrity compromise could lead to misinformation displayed to end users, potential defacement, or indirect reputational damage. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, and government that use WordPress extensively for public-facing websites could be targeted to manipulate displayed information or user interface elements, potentially undermining user trust. Since exploitation requires at least low-level privileges, attackers might leverage other vulnerabilities or social engineering to gain such access before exploiting this flaw. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability's presence in a widely used CMS plugin necessitates proactive mitigation to prevent future exploitation. Additionally, unauthorized changes could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain, such as phishing or misinformation campaigns, which are of particular concern in the European regulatory environment emphasizing data integrity and user protection.

European organizations should first inventory their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the QuanticaLabs CSS3 Tooltips plugin and verify the version in use. Given the absence of an official patch at the time of disclosure, organizations should consider the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict plugin management and editing capabilities strictly to trusted administrators to minimize the risk of privilege escalation to low-level users who could exploit the vulnerability. 2) Implement robust role-based access control (RBAC) within WordPress to ensure that only necessary users have permissions to interact with plugin settings or content. 3) Monitor and audit changes to tooltip content and plugin configurations to detect unauthorized modifications promptly. 4) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin's endpoints or parameters. 5) Stay informed on vendor updates and apply patches immediately once available. 6) Consider temporarily disabling or removing the plugin if it is not essential or if mitigation controls cannot be effectively enforced. 7) Educate site administrators and users about the risks of privilege escalation and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access. These targeted steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control hardening and monitoring specific to the plugin's operational context.