CVE-2025-3853 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the WPshop 2 – E-Commerce plugin for WordPress, specifically versions 2.0.0 through 2.6.0. The vulnerability is classified as an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) issue, identified under CWE-639 (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key). The root cause lies in the callback_generate_api_key() function, which fails to properly validate a user-controlled key parameter. This flaw allows authenticated users with Subscriber-level access or higher to generate valid API keys on behalf of other users without proper authorization checks. Since API keys often grant programmatic access to user accounts or e-commerce functionalities, an attacker exploiting this vulnerability could impersonate other users, potentially accessing sensitive data or performing unauthorized actions within the e-commerce platform. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges beyond Subscriber-level, nor does it require user interaction beyond authentication. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and partial confidentiality and integrity impact but no availability impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on May 7, 2025.

For European organizations using WordPress with the WPshop 2 – E-Commerce plugin, this vulnerability poses a tangible risk to the confidentiality and integrity of their e-commerce operations. Attackers with minimal privileges can escalate their access by generating API keys for other users, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, manipulation of orders, or fraudulent transactions. This could result in financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory compliance issues, especially under GDPR where unauthorized access to personal data is a serious concern. The impact is particularly significant for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) relying on this plugin for online sales, as they may lack the resources for rapid incident response. Since the vulnerability does not affect availability, denial-of-service is less of a concern, but the breach of confidentiality and integrity could lead to customer trust erosion and legal liabilities. Additionally, the ease of exploitation (no privilege beyond Subscriber and no user interaction) increases the likelihood of exploitation if attackers gain initial access to subscriber accounts, which can happen through phishing or credential stuffing.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence and version of the WPshop 2 – E-Commerce plugin. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider the following mitigations: 1) Restrict Subscriber-level account creation and monitor for suspicious account activity to reduce the risk of attackers gaining initial access. 2) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block anomalous API key generation requests, especially those attempting to specify keys for other users. 3) Enforce strict API key usage monitoring and logging to detect unauthorized key creation or usage patterns. 4) Temporarily disable or restrict the plugin’s API key generation functionality if feasible. 5) Educate users about phishing and credential hygiene to prevent account compromise. 6) Prepare for rapid patch deployment once the vendor releases an update by subscribing to official security advisories. 7) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on authorization controls within the e-commerce environment.