CVE-2025-58016 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) found in the CF7 Submissions plugin developed by Codexpert, Inc. This vulnerability arises due to incorrectly configured access control security levels, allowing users with limited privileges to perform actions or access resources that should be restricted. Specifically, the flaw affects versions up to 0.26 of the CF7 Submissions plugin. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires some level of privileges (PR:L). The impact is limited to integrity, meaning an attacker with limited privileges could potentially modify or manipulate data or submissions without proper authorization, but confidentiality and availability are not directly affected. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.3, indicating a medium severity level. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability highlights a failure in enforcing proper authorization checks, which is critical in web applications handling form submissions, as unauthorized modifications can lead to data tampering or manipulation of business logic.

For European organizations, especially those using WordPress with the CF7 Submissions plugin for contact forms or data collection, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized modification of submitted data. This can undermine data integrity, potentially affecting customer communications, lead management, or other business processes relying on accurate form data. While confidentiality is not directly impacted, the integrity breach could cause operational disruptions or reputational damage if manipulated data leads to incorrect business decisions or customer dissatisfaction. Organizations subject to strict data protection regulations like GDPR must also consider the implications of unauthorized data manipulation, which could be viewed as a failure to maintain data accuracy and integrity. The medium severity suggests that while the threat is not critical, it should be addressed promptly to avoid escalation or exploitation in combination with other vulnerabilities.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify if CF7 Submissions plugin versions up to 0.26 are in use. Until an official patch is released, administrators should consider disabling the plugin or restricting its usage to trusted users only. Implementing strict role-based access controls (RBAC) within WordPress to limit who can interact with the plugin is essential. Monitoring and logging all interactions with the CF7 Submissions plugin can help detect unauthorized activities early. Additionally, organizations should review and harden their web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin endpoints. Regularly updating plugins and subscribing to vendor security advisories will ensure timely application of patches once available. Finally, conducting internal penetration testing focused on authorization controls can help identify similar weaknesses proactively.