CVE-2025-66085 is a missing authorization vulnerability found in the Arconix Shortcodes plugin developed by tychesoftwares, affecting all versions up to and including 2.1.18. The core issue stems from improperly configured access control mechanisms within the plugin, which allow unauthorized users to exploit shortcode functionalities without proper permission checks. Specifically, the vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to enforce authorization on certain shortcode operations, enabling attackers to execute actions that should be restricted. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium), with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The impact is limited to confidentiality loss, with no integrity or availability impact. This means attackers might be able to access some sensitive information or data exposed via shortcodes but cannot modify or disrupt services. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches or updates have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on November 21, 2025, and assigned by Patchstack. Given the plugin’s use in WordPress environments, the threat primarily targets websites using Arconix Shortcodes, which is a popular plugin for adding customizable shortcodes to WordPress content. Exploitation could involve tricking authenticated users into triggering malicious shortcode actions or leveraging the shortcode functionality to gain unauthorized data access. The lack of authorization checks indicates a design flaw in the plugin’s access control implementation, which should be addressed by the vendor through proper permission validation and role-based restrictions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-66085 depends largely on the extent of Arconix Shortcodes deployment within their WordPress environments. Organizations using this plugin on public-facing websites or intranets risk unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information embedded or accessible via shortcodes. Although the vulnerability does not allow modification or disruption of services, the confidentiality breach could expose business-sensitive data, user information, or internal content, potentially leading to reputational damage or compliance issues under GDPR. E-commerce platforms, media companies, and public sector websites using Arconix Shortcodes are particularly at risk. The ease of exploitation—requiring no privileges but some user interaction—means attackers could craft social engineering or phishing campaigns to induce users to trigger the vulnerability. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild and the medium severity score suggest a moderate threat level at present. Organizations with mature security monitoring and access controls may detect or prevent exploitation attempts. Nonetheless, the vulnerability highlights the importance of secure plugin configuration and access control enforcement in WordPress environments.

European organizations should take several specific steps to mitigate this vulnerability beyond generic advice: 1) Immediately audit all WordPress sites for the presence of Arconix Shortcodes plugin and identify versions in use. 2) Restrict shortcode usage to trusted user roles only, ensuring that only authorized personnel can insert or execute shortcodes. 3) Implement strict access control policies on WordPress admin and content editing interfaces to prevent unauthorized shortcode manipulation. 4) Monitor logs and user activity for unusual shortcode usage patterns or attempts to exploit shortcode functionalities. 5) Engage with the plugin vendor or community to obtain or request patches addressing the missing authorization issue. 6) If patches are unavailable, consider temporarily disabling or removing the plugin until a secure version is released. 7) Educate users about phishing and social engineering risks that could lead to exploitation via user interaction. 8) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious shortcode-related requests. 9) Regularly update WordPress core and plugins to minimize exposure to known vulnerabilities. 10) Conduct penetration testing focused on shortcode functionalities to identify potential exploitation vectors.