CVE-2025-3438 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) affecting the MStore API – Create Native Android & iOS Apps On The Cloud plugin for WordPress, developed by inspireui. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 4.17.4 and allows unauthenticated attackers to escalate privileges by registering with the 'wcfm_vendor' role. The 'wcfm_vendor' role is a Store Vendor role associated with the WCFM Marketplace – Multivendor Marketplace for WooCommerce plugin, which must be installed and activated for the vulnerability to be exploitable. The core issue stems from insufficient restriction on role assignment during user registration, enabling attackers to gain vendor-level access without authentication or user interaction. This can lead to unauthorized access to vendor functionalities such as product listings, order management, and potentially sensitive customer data. The vulnerability was partially addressed in version 4.17.3 but remains exploitable up to 4.17.4, indicating incomplete remediation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), with an attack vector of network (remote exploitation), low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction needed, and impacts on confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability's exploitation scope is limited to environments where both the MStore API plugin and the WCFM Marketplace plugin coexist, which is a common setup for WordPress-based e-commerce sites using WooCommerce with multivendor capabilities. The lack of authentication requirement and the ability to self-register as a vendor pose a significant risk of unauthorized vendor account creation, potentially leading to fraudulent listings, data leakage, or manipulation of marketplace operations.

For European organizations, especially those operating e-commerce platforms using WordPress with WooCommerce and the WCFM Marketplace plugin, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized vendor account creation. This may result in fraudulent product listings, manipulation of sales data, unauthorized access to customer information, and potential reputational damage. Confidentiality and integrity of marketplace data could be compromised, undermining trust with customers and partners. Given the GDPR regulatory environment in Europe, unauthorized access to personal data could also lead to compliance violations and significant fines. The impact is particularly critical for mid to large-sized online retailers and marketplaces that rely on these plugins for multivendor management. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks within the network if vendor accounts have extended privileges or access to backend systems. Although availability is not directly impacted, the indirect effects on business operations and customer trust can be substantial.

1. Immediate upgrade to the latest patched version of the MStore API plugin beyond 4.17.4 once available, ensuring the vulnerability is fully remediated. 2. Temporarily disable user self-registration or restrict registration workflows until a secure patch is applied. 3. Implement strict role assignment validation on the server side to prevent unauthorized role elevation during registration. 4. Audit existing vendor accounts for suspicious or unauthorized registrations and remove any that appear fraudulent. 5. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block anomalous registration attempts targeting the 'wcfm_vendor' role. 6. Monitor logs for unusual registration patterns or spikes in vendor account creations. 7. Restrict vendor capabilities to the minimum necessary and review permissions regularly to limit potential damage from compromised accounts. 8. Educate site administrators on the risk and ensure timely application of security updates. 9. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for vendor accounts to add an additional security layer. 10. For organizations with sensitive data, conduct penetration testing focused on privilege escalation vectors within the WordPress environment.