CVE-2025-52775 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) affecting the Ronik@UnlimitedWP Project Cost Calculator plugin, specifically versions up to 1.0.0. This vulnerability arises due to improperly configured access control mechanisms, allowing users with limited privileges (PR:L - privileges required) to perform actions or access resources beyond their authorization scope. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 reflects a network exploitable (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), with no confidentiality impact (C:N), limited integrity impact (I:L), but high availability impact (A:H). This means an attacker with some level of authenticated access can exploit the vulnerability remotely without user interaction to disrupt the availability of the affected system or service, potentially causing denial of service or operational interruptions. The vulnerability is due to missing or incorrectly implemented authorization checks, which is a common security flaw where the system fails to verify whether a user is permitted to perform certain actions. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the presence of this vulnerability in a WordPress plugin used for project cost calculations could allow attackers to manipulate or disrupt project management workflows, impacting business operations. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for organizations to implement compensating controls or monitor for suspicious activity. Given the plugin's role in project cost estimation, exploitation could lead to denial of service or manipulation of project data, affecting business decision-making and operational continuity.

For European organizations using the Ronik@UnlimitedWP Project Cost Calculator plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the integrity and availability of project management data. Disruption caused by exploitation could lead to denial of service conditions, preventing users from accessing critical project cost information, thereby delaying project timelines and impacting financial planning. The integrity impact, while limited, could allow unauthorized modification of project cost data, potentially leading to inaccurate budgeting and resource allocation. This is particularly critical for organizations in sectors with tight project management requirements such as construction, IT services, and consulting firms. Additionally, the exploitation of this vulnerability could be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks within the network, especially if the attacker can escalate privileges or move laterally. The absence of confidentiality impact reduces the risk of data leakage but does not eliminate the operational risks. European organizations with compliance obligations under regulations like GDPR must also consider the potential indirect effects of service disruption on data processing activities and contractual obligations. Overall, the threat could cause operational downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage if not addressed promptly.

Given the lack of an official patch at the time of disclosure, European organizations should take immediate steps to mitigate the risk: 1) Restrict access to the Project Cost Calculator plugin to only trusted and necessary users, minimizing the number of accounts with privileges that could exploit this vulnerability. 2) Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) and review user permissions regularly to ensure no excessive privileges are granted. 3) Monitor logs and audit trails for unusual activities related to the plugin, such as unauthorized access attempts or unexpected changes in project cost data. 4) Consider temporarily disabling or uninstalling the plugin if it is not critical to business operations until a security patch is released. 5) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin endpoints. 6) Engage with the vendor or community to track patch releases and apply updates promptly once available. 7) Conduct internal security awareness training to ensure users understand the risks of privilege misuse and the importance of secure access practices. These steps provide a layered defense approach to reduce the attack surface and limit potential exploitation.