CVE-2025-64188 identifies an Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability in the PenciDesign Soledad WordPress theme, affecting versions up to and including 8.6.9. This vulnerability allows attackers with some level of access—potentially even low-privileged users—to escalate their privileges beyond intended limits. The root cause is improper assignment or enforcement of user permissions within the theme's functionality, which may allow unauthorized users to perform administrative actions or access restricted features. Although no public exploits have been reported, the flaw poses a significant risk because privilege escalation can lead to full site compromise, including content manipulation, data theft, or deployment of malicious code. The vulnerability was reserved in late October 2025 and published in December 2025, but no CVSS score or patch links are currently available, indicating that remediation may still be pending or in progress. The lack of authentication or user interaction requirements for exploitation is not explicitly stated, but the nature of privilege escalation typically requires some initial access, possibly through lower-privileged accounts or other vulnerabilities. The theme is widely used in WordPress sites, which are prevalent across Europe, making this a relevant threat for organizations relying on this theme for their web presence.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized administrative access to WordPress sites using the Soledad theme, resulting in potential data breaches, defacement, or insertion of malicious content. Such compromises can damage brand reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and disrupt business operations. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of the Soledad theme among European businesses, especially in sectors like media, e-commerce, and services, the impact could be broad. Attackers exploiting this flaw could pivot to other internal systems if the compromised site is integrated with corporate networks. The absence of known exploits suggests a window for proactive mitigation, but also implies that attackers may develop exploits soon after public disclosure. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is significant, as administrative control over a website can affect all three.

Organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify use of the Soledad theme and verify the version in use. Until an official patch is released, restrict access to WordPress administrative and theme management interfaces to trusted personnel only, ideally behind VPNs or IP whitelisting. Review and tighten user roles and permissions to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. Monitor logs for unusual privilege escalations or administrative actions. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting theme functionalities. Stay informed via vendor and security advisories for patch releases and apply updates promptly. Consider isolating WordPress instances from critical internal networks to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. Conduct regular backups of website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery if needed.