CVE-2025-53230 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) affecting the 'Page Manager for Elementor' plugin developed by honzat. This vulnerability arises due to improperly configured access control mechanisms within the plugin, allowing users with limited privileges (PR:L - Privileges Required: Low) to perform unauthorized actions without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts versions up to 2.0.5, with no specific lower bound version identified (noted as 'n/a'). The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.6 reflects a significant risk, primarily because the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) with low complexity (AC:L), and it impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Specifically, the vulnerability allows an attacker with low-level privileges to bypass authorization checks, potentially leading to unauthorized access or modification of page management functions within Elementor, a widely used WordPress page builder plugin. This could result in unauthorized content changes, defacement, or disruption of website availability, severely impacting the integrity and availability of the affected web assets. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that organizations should prioritize monitoring and mitigation efforts. The vulnerability's nature suggests that attackers do not require user interaction, increasing the risk of automated exploitation once a proof of concept or exploit becomes available.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on WordPress websites utilizing the Elementor plugin with the Page Manager add-on. The unauthorized access could lead to website defacement, injection of malicious content, or disruption of service, which can damage brand reputation, lead to data leakage, or cause operational downtime. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, government, and critical infrastructure that use Elementor for content management are particularly vulnerable. Given the plugin's role in managing page content, exploitation could also facilitate further attacks such as phishing, malware distribution, or privilege escalation within the web environment. The impact is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability requires only low-level privileges, which could be obtained through compromised user accounts or insider threats. Additionally, the lack of user interaction for exploitation increases the likelihood of automated attacks. European organizations must consider regulatory implications, including GDPR, as unauthorized data exposure or website defacement could lead to compliance violations and financial penalties.

1. Immediate auditing of user privileges within WordPress environments using the Elementor Page Manager plugin to ensure that only trusted users have access to page management functions. 2. Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) and review all user roles and permissions to minimize the risk of privilege abuse. 3. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual activities related to page management operations, especially from accounts with low privileges. 4. Apply virtual patching via Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) by creating custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the Page Manager plugin endpoints until an official patch is released. 5. Regularly update all WordPress plugins and themes, and subscribe to vendor security advisories to promptly apply patches once available. 6. Conduct penetration testing focused on access control mechanisms within the WordPress environment to identify and remediate similar authorization issues. 7. Educate administrators and users about the risks of privilege misuse and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of account compromise. 8. Segment web management interfaces from other critical systems to limit lateral movement in case of exploitation.