CVE-2025-6027 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) found in the Ace User Management WordPress plugin up to version 2.0.3. The flaw arises because the plugin fails to verify that a password reset token corresponds to the user who requested it. Consequently, any authenticated user, including those with minimal privileges such as subscribers, can exploit this weakness to reset the passwords of other users, including administrators. This bypasses intended access controls and allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to higher-privilege accounts. The attack vector requires the attacker to be authenticated on the WordPress site but does not require additional user interaction or complex exploitation techniques. The vulnerability compromises the integrity and confidentiality of user accounts and can lead to full site takeover, data theft, or further malicious activities. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the nature of the vulnerability makes it a critical risk once weaponized. The lack of a CVSS score indicates the need for manual severity assessment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations relying on WordPress for critical services, as it undermines the trust model of user authentication and password management.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks, especially for those using the Ace User Management plugin on WordPress sites that manage sensitive or critical data. An attacker exploiting this flaw can escalate privileges by resetting administrator passwords, leading to full control over the website. This can result in data breaches, defacement, insertion of malicious code, or use of the compromised site as a launchpad for further attacks within the network. The impact extends to loss of customer trust, regulatory penalties under GDPR for data breaches, and operational disruptions. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce are particularly vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of their data and the criticality of their web presence. The requirement for authentication limits the attack surface to insiders or users with existing accounts, but insider threats or compromised low-level accounts can still be leveraged. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation.

1. Monitor for and apply official patches or updates from the Ace User Management plugin developers as soon as they become available. 2. Until a patch is released, consider disabling the password reset functionality or the plugin itself if feasible. 3. Implement additional server-side validation to ensure password reset tokens are strictly bound to the requesting user, possibly via custom code or web application firewall (WAF) rules. 4. Enforce strong authentication policies, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts to reduce the impact of compromised credentials. 5. Conduct regular audits of user accounts and password reset logs to detect suspicious activity. 6. Limit the number of users with authenticated access to the WordPress backend, especially minimizing subscriber accounts. 7. Employ intrusion detection systems (IDS) and monitoring tools to alert on unusual password reset or login activities. 8. Educate administrators and users about the risks and signs of account compromise. 9. Backup WordPress sites regularly to enable recovery in case of compromise. 10. Consider alternative user management plugins with a stronger security track record if immediate patching is not possible.