CVE-2025-66148 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the merkulove Conformer plugin for Elementor, a popular WordPress page builder extension. The vulnerability arises from incorrectly configured access control mechanisms that fail to properly verify whether a user has sufficient privileges to perform certain actions within the plugin. Specifically, attackers with low-level privileges (PR:L) can exploit this flaw remotely (AV:N) without requiring user interaction (UI:N) to execute unauthorized operations that impact the integrity and availability of the affected system. The affected versions include all releases up to 1.0.7, with no patch currently available. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L) indicates that the attack is network-based, requires low attack complexity, and privileges but no user interaction, affecting integrity and availability but not confidentiality. Although no exploits have been observed in the wild, the vulnerability poses a risk to WordPress sites using this plugin, potentially allowing attackers to modify content, disrupt site functionality, or cause denial of service conditions. The root cause is the absence of proper authorization checks on sensitive plugin operations, which should be addressed by implementing strict role-based access controls and validating user permissions before executing critical functions.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized modifications of website content or configurations, potentially damaging brand reputation, disrupting business operations, or causing service outages. Since Elementor is widely used across Europe for website development, especially among SMEs and digital agencies, exploitation could affect a broad range of sectors including e-commerce, media, and professional services. Integrity impacts may result in defacement or insertion of malicious content, while availability impacts could cause partial or full denial of service on affected websites. Although confidentiality is not directly impacted, the loss of trust and operational disruptions could have significant indirect consequences. Organizations relying on merkulove Conformer for Elementor should consider the risk of targeted attacks, especially in countries with high WordPress adoption and digital economy reliance. The lack of known exploits suggests a window for proactive mitigation before widespread exploitation occurs.

1. Immediately audit and restrict user roles and permissions related to the merkulove Conformer plugin, ensuring only trusted users have access to sensitive functions. 2. Monitor plugin activity logs for unusual or unauthorized actions that could indicate exploitation attempts. 3. Apply principle of least privilege to all WordPress users, especially those with access to page builder plugins. 4. Stay informed about vendor updates and apply patches promptly once available to fix the missing authorization checks. 5. Consider implementing Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin endpoints. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on access control mechanisms within WordPress plugins. 7. Educate site administrators about the risks of privilege escalation and the importance of secure plugin management. 8. If patching is delayed, temporarily disable or limit the use of the merkulove Conformer plugin on critical sites to reduce attack surface.