CVE-2025-5953 is a high-severity privilege escalation vulnerability affecting the WP Human Resource Management plugin for WordPress, specifically versions 2.0.0 through 2.2.17. The vulnerability arises from missing authorization checks in two AJAX handler functions: ajax_insert_employee() and update_empoyee(). These functions process client-supplied POST data, including the 'role' parameter, which after minimal sanitization via hrm_clean(), is passed directly to WordPress functions wp_insert_user() and subsequently to the user object's set_role() method. Critically, the plugin fails to verify whether the authenticated user has the necessary permissions to assign the requested role. As a result, any authenticated user with Employee-level access or higher can escalate their privileges to administrator by manipulating the role parameter in AJAX requests. This bypasses intended access controls and allows attackers to gain full administrative control over the WordPress site. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting the network attack vector, low attack complexity, requirement for low privileges but no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability's nature makes it a critical risk for affected installations. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), highlighting the failure to enforce proper access control before performing sensitive operations. Since the plugin is designed for human resource management, it is likely deployed in organizations managing employee data, making the impact of a compromise significant.

For European organizations using the WP Human Resource Management plugin, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk. Successful exploitation allows an attacker with minimal privileges to gain full administrative rights, enabling them to manipulate website content, steal sensitive employee data, install backdoors, or disrupt operations. Given the plugin's role in managing HR data, breaches could lead to exposure of personally identifiable information (PII), violating GDPR and other data protection regulations, potentially resulting in heavy fines and reputational damage. Additionally, attackers could leverage administrative access to pivot within the organization's IT infrastructure if the WordPress site is integrated with internal systems. The ease of exploitation and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability make this a critical threat to organizational security and compliance posture in Europe.

European organizations should immediately verify if they use the WP Human Resource Management plugin versions 2.0.0 through 2.2.17. Since no patch links are currently provided, organizations should consider the following specific mitigations: 1) Temporarily disable or restrict access to the plugin's employee management features to trusted administrators only. 2) Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious AJAX requests attempting to modify user roles, particularly those originating from non-administrative accounts. 3) Audit user roles and permissions to ensure no unauthorized privilege escalations have occurred. 4) Monitor logs for unusual activity related to user role changes or AJAX requests to the affected endpoints. 5) Engage with the plugin vendor or community to obtain or develop a security patch that enforces proper authorization checks before role assignment. 6) As a longer-term measure, consider alternative HR management solutions with verified security controls. 7) Educate internal users about the risk of privilege escalation and enforce strong authentication and session management practices to reduce the risk of compromised accounts being leveraged.