CVE-2025-39405 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-266 (Incorrect Privilege Assignment) affecting the mojoomla WPAMS product. WPAMS is a WordPress Access Management System designed to control user permissions and access within WordPress environments. The vulnerability allows an attacker with some level of privileges (PR:L - privileges required) to escalate their privileges without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The CVSS vector indicates that the attack can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify content or settings, and disrupt service availability. The affected versions include all versions up to 44.0 as of August 17, 2023. The root cause is improper assignment of privileges within the WPAMS system, which could allow a user with limited rights to gain higher-level administrative access. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the high CVSS score and the nature of the vulnerability suggest a significant risk if exploited. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting increases the urgency for mitigation. This vulnerability is particularly critical because WPAMS manages access control, and a compromise here could undermine the entire WordPress site's security posture.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, especially for those relying on WordPress with the WPAMS plugin for access management. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, including personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in potential data breaches and regulatory penalties. The integrity of website content and configurations could be compromised, leading to misinformation, defacement, or insertion of malicious content. Availability impacts could disrupt business operations, customer trust, and online services. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe across sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, and government, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of organizations. The ability to escalate privileges remotely without user interaction increases the threat level, as attackers can automate exploitation attempts. This could also facilitate lateral movement within networks if the WordPress instance is integrated with internal systems. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity demands immediate attention to avoid potential future attacks.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the WPAMS plugin and verify the version in use. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider disabling or uninstalling WPAMS if feasible. Implement strict access controls limiting the number of users with privileges that could be escalated. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting WPAMS endpoints. Monitor logs for unusual privilege escalation attempts or anomalous administrative activities. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on access control mechanisms. Keep abreast of vendor announcements for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. Additionally, implement network segmentation to isolate WordPress servers from critical internal systems to limit potential lateral movement. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts to add an additional layer of defense against compromised credentials.