CVE-2025-5526 is a security vulnerability identified in the BuddyPress Docs WordPress plugin, specifically in versions prior to 2.2.5. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-639, which pertains to authorization bypass through user-controlled keys. In this case, the plugin lacks proper access control mechanisms, allowing any authenticated user to view and download documents that belong to other users. This occurs because the plugin does not adequately verify whether the requesting user has the appropriate permissions to access the requested files. As a result, a logged-in user can manipulate the request parameters or keys to bypass authorization checks and gain unauthorized access to sensitive documents stored within the BuddyPress Docs environment. The vulnerability does not require any known exploits in the wild at this time, but its presence in a widely used WordPress plugin poses a significant risk. Since BuddyPress Docs is often used to facilitate collaboration and document sharing within WordPress communities, unauthorized access could lead to exposure of confidential or sensitive information. The lack of a CVSS score indicates that the vulnerability has not yet been formally scored, but the nature of the flaw suggests a serious security concern. The vulnerability was published on June 27, 2025, and no official patches or updates are referenced in the provided data, indicating that users should urgently seek updates or mitigations from the plugin maintainers.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the BuddyPress Docs plugin, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive internal documents. This may include intellectual property, personal data protected under GDPR, or confidential business information. The exposure of such data can result in regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and loss of competitive advantage. Additionally, unauthorized access to documents could facilitate further attacks such as social engineering or targeted phishing campaigns. Organizations that rely on BuddyPress Docs for internal collaboration or customer-facing portals are particularly at risk. The impact is heightened in sectors with stringent data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions within Europe. Since the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, any compromised or legitimate user account can be leveraged to exploit this flaw, increasing the attack surface. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability becomes widely known.

European organizations should immediately verify the version of BuddyPress Docs installed on their WordPress sites and upgrade to version 2.2.5 or later once available. Until an official patch is released, administrators should consider disabling the BuddyPress Docs plugin or restricting its use to trusted users only. Implementing strict user role management and minimizing the number of users with document access privileges can reduce exposure. Additionally, monitoring access logs for unusual file access patterns or downloads can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review and tighten WordPress file permissions and consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to block unauthorized access attempts to document URLs. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning focused on WordPress plugins are recommended to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. Finally, educating users about the importance of account security and monitoring for compromised credentials can help prevent attackers from gaining authenticated access required to exploit this vulnerability.