CVE-2025-64188 is an Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability found in the PenciDesign Soledad WordPress theme, affecting versions up to and including 8.6.9. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to escalate privileges remotely without any user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The vulnerability arises from improper assignment or enforcement of user privileges within the theme's code, enabling attackers to gain higher-level permissions than intended. This can lead to full compromise of the affected WordPress site, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification or deletion of content, and potential deployment of malicious code or backdoors. The vulnerability has a critical CVSS score of 9.8, reflecting its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and lack of required authentication make this a significant threat. The vulnerability was reserved in late October 2025 and published in December 2025, with no patch links currently available, indicating that remediation may still be pending or in progress. Organizations using the Soledad theme should consider this vulnerability a top priority for mitigation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-64188 can be severe. Many European businesses and institutions rely on WordPress for their web presence, and Soledad is a popular premium theme with significant market penetration. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to confidential customer data, intellectual property theft, defacement of websites, and disruption of online services. This could result in reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR for data breaches, and financial losses. The vulnerability's ability to be exploited remotely without authentication increases the risk of widespread attacks, especially against organizations with publicly accessible WordPress installations. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce in Europe could face heightened risks due to the sensitivity of their data and the strategic importance of their online platforms.

Immediate mitigation steps include: 1) Monitoring official PenciDesign channels and trusted vulnerability databases for the release of patches addressing CVE-2025-64188 and applying them promptly. 2) Temporarily restricting access to WordPress admin interfaces and theme management pages via IP whitelisting or VPNs to reduce exposure. 3) Implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious privilege escalation attempts targeting the Soledad theme. 4) Conducting thorough audits of user roles and permissions within WordPress to ensure no excessive privileges are granted. 5) Regularly backing up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. 6) Employing intrusion detection systems to monitor for anomalous activities related to privilege escalation. 7) Educating site administrators about the risks and signs of exploitation to improve incident response readiness. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control hardening, proactive monitoring, and rapid patch deployment specific to this vulnerability.