CVE-2025-48079 is a security vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) affecting Metagauss ProfileGrid, a user profile and community management plugin. The vulnerability arises due to improperly configured access control mechanisms, allowing users with limited privileges (requiring at least low-level privileges, PR:L) to perform unauthorized actions that should be restricted. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N). While it does not impact confidentiality or availability, it compromises the integrity of the system by enabling unauthorized modifications or actions. The affected versions include ProfileGrid up to 5.9.5.1, though the exact range is not fully specified. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.3, indicating a medium severity level. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The issue is significant because missing authorization can lead to privilege escalation or unauthorized data manipulation, undermining trust in the platform's access controls. Since ProfileGrid is often used in WordPress environments to manage user profiles and communities, exploitation could allow attackers to alter user data, modify group memberships, or change settings without proper permissions, potentially leading to further attacks or data integrity issues.

For European organizations using Metagauss ProfileGrid, this vulnerability poses a risk to the integrity of user data and community management systems. Unauthorized changes could disrupt business operations, damage user trust, and lead to compliance issues, especially under GDPR where data integrity and access controls are critical. Organizations relying on ProfileGrid for customer or employee portals may face unauthorized modifications to user profiles or group permissions, which could facilitate insider threats or lateral movement within networks. While the vulnerability does not directly expose confidential data or cause denial of service, the integrity compromise can be leveraged for further attacks or fraud. Given the widespread use of WordPress and its plugins in Europe, especially in sectors like education, government, and SMEs, the impact could be broad if exploited. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity and ease of exploitation over the network warrant proactive mitigation.

European organizations should immediately audit their use of ProfileGrid and restrict access privileges to the minimum necessary, especially limiting users with low-level privileges from performing sensitive actions. Monitoring and logging of user actions related to profile and group management should be enhanced to detect unauthorized changes. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or restricting the ProfileGrid plugin if feasible. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting ProfileGrid endpoints. Regularly check for updates from Metagauss and apply patches promptly once available. Additionally, conduct penetration testing focused on authorization controls within ProfileGrid to identify and remediate any other access control weaknesses. Educate administrators on the risks of misconfigured access controls and enforce strict role-based access policies within WordPress environments.