CVE-2025-60096 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) found in CodexThemes TheGem plugin for Elementor, a popular WordPress page builder. This vulnerability arises due to incorrectly configured access control security levels, allowing users with limited privileges (PR:L - privileges required: low) to perform unauthorized actions that should be restricted. The vulnerability affects versions up to 5.10.5, although the exact affected versions are not fully enumerated (noted as 'n/a'). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4, indicating a medium severity level. The vector indicates that the attack can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N), requires low privileges (PR:L), does not require user interaction (UI:N), and impacts integrity and availability (I:L/A:L) but not confidentiality (C:N). This means an attacker with some authenticated access but limited privileges can exploit the vulnerability to alter data or disrupt service availability without needing victim interaction. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests this is a newly disclosed vulnerability. The root cause is a failure to properly enforce authorization checks on certain functionality within TheGem plugin, potentially allowing privilege escalation or unauthorized modifications. Since TheGem is a widely used WordPress theme/plugin for Elementor, this vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise website integrity or availability if exploited.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with TheGem (Elementor) plugin, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Attackers with low-level authenticated access (e.g., subscriber or contributor roles) could exploit the missing authorization to perform unauthorized actions, such as modifying website content, injecting malicious code, or disrupting site availability. This could lead to website defacement, data integrity issues, or denial of service, impacting brand reputation and user trust. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe for corporate, governmental, and e-commerce websites, exploitation could affect sectors ranging from SMEs to large enterprises. The impact is heightened for organizations with multi-user environments where low-privilege users exist, increasing the attack surface. However, since exploitation requires some level of authentication, purely external unauthenticated attackers are less likely to exploit this directly without first compromising credentials. The vulnerability does not directly expose confidential data but can indirectly affect operational continuity and data integrity.

1. Immediate patching: Although no patch links are provided, organizations should monitor CodexThemes and Elementor official channels for updates addressing CVE-2025-60096 and apply patches promptly. 2. Access control review: Audit user roles and permissions within WordPress to minimize low-privilege accounts and restrict access to trusted users only. 3. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all authenticated users to reduce risk of credential compromise. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting TheGem plugin endpoints. 5. Monitor logs for unusual activity from low-privilege accounts, such as unexpected content changes or configuration modifications. 6. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing TheGem plugin if patching is delayed and risk is unacceptable. 7. Harden WordPress installations by following best practices, including limiting plugin usage and keeping all components updated. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on minimizing the attack surface related to authenticated low-privilege users and enhancing detection capabilities.