CVE-2025-66133 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability in the WP Cookie Notice for GDPR, CCPA & ePrivacy Consent plugin developed by WP Legal Pages. This plugin is widely used in WordPress environments to manage cookie consent banners and ensure compliance with privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA. The vulnerability arises from improperly configured access control mechanisms within the plugin, allowing attackers to perform actions without proper authorization. Specifically, the plugin fails to enforce adequate permission checks on certain administrative or configuration functions, which could be exploited to alter cookie consent settings or access sensitive user consent data. The affected versions include all releases up to and including 4.0.7. Although no public exploits have been reported, the flaw represents a significant risk given the plugin’s role in privacy compliance. The vulnerability was reserved and published in late 2025, with no CVSS score assigned yet. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may still be pending or in development. This vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to undermine user privacy preferences, potentially leading to regulatory violations and reputational damage for affected organizations. The exploitation does not require user interaction but may depend on the attacker having some level of access to the WordPress backend or exploiting other weaknesses to gain such access. The scope of impact includes any WordPress site using the vulnerable plugin version, which is substantial given WordPress’s market share in Europe.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat to compliance with stringent data protection laws such as GDPR. Unauthorized modification or disclosure of cookie consent information can lead to violations of user privacy rights, resulting in legal penalties and fines. The integrity of consent records is critical for demonstrating compliance, and any compromise could undermine trust with customers and regulators. Additionally, attackers exploiting this flaw could potentially escalate privileges or pivot to other parts of the WordPress environment, increasing the risk of broader compromise. Organizations in sectors with high regulatory scrutiny, including finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, face heightened risks. The impact extends beyond data confidentiality to include potential service disruption if attackers manipulate plugin settings or cause misconfigurations. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe, the vulnerability could affect a large number of websites, amplifying the potential scale of impact.

Organizations should prioritize updating the WP Cookie Notice for GDPR, CCPA & ePrivacy Consent plugin to a patched version once it becomes available. Until a patch is released, administrators should restrict access to WordPress backend interfaces to trusted personnel only and implement strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication. Reviewing and tightening user roles and permissions within WordPress can reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Monitoring logs for unusual administrative actions related to cookie consent settings is advisable. Employing web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting suspicious activity on plugin endpoints can provide additional protection. Regular security audits and vulnerability scans should include checks for this plugin’s version and configuration. Organizations should also prepare incident response plans specific to privacy compliance breaches to mitigate regulatory and reputational damage in case of exploitation.