CVE-2025-66153 identifies a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the merkulove Headinger plugin for Elementor, a popular WordPress page builder add-on. This vulnerability arises from incorrectly configured access control mechanisms within the plugin, allowing users with limited privileges (PR:L) to perform unauthorized actions that should be restricted. Specifically, the flaw enables attackers to bypass intended authorization checks, potentially modifying plugin settings or causing denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects all versions up to 1.1.4, with no fixed versions currently indicated. 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 can be launched remotely over the network, requires low attack complexity, and only limited privileges, but does not require user interaction. The impact primarily affects integrity and availability, with no direct confidentiality loss. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. The vulnerability was reserved and published in late 2025, highlighting the need for awareness and patching once fixes are released. Given the widespread use of Elementor and its plugins in WordPress sites, this vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt website functionality or alter content without proper authorization.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk to the integrity and availability of websites using the merkulove Headinger plugin with Elementor. Unauthorized users with limited privileges could exploit the flaw to alter website content, configurations, or disrupt service availability, potentially damaging brand reputation and user trust. Organizations relying on WordPress for customer-facing portals, e-commerce, or internal communications could face operational disruptions. The absence of confidentiality impact reduces risks related to data breaches, but integrity and availability issues can still have significant business consequences. Since the vulnerability requires some level of authenticated access, insider threats or compromised accounts could be leveraged for exploitation. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate risk, but the medium CVSS score suggests that attackers may develop exploits if patches are delayed. European entities with strict compliance requirements around website integrity and uptime should prioritize mitigation to avoid regulatory or contractual impacts.

1. Monitor official merkulove and Elementor channels for security updates and apply patches promptly once released to address CVE-2025-66153. 2. Restrict access to WordPress admin and plugin management interfaces using strong authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of privilege abuse. 3. Review and minimize user roles and permissions within WordPress to ensure only trusted users have the necessary privileges to manage plugins. 4. Implement web application firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting plugin endpoints. 5. Regularly audit plugin configurations and logs for unauthorized changes or anomalous activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Consider isolating critical WordPress instances or using staging environments to test plugin updates before production deployment. 7. Educate administrators and developers about the risks of missing authorization vulnerabilities and best practices for secure plugin management. 8. If immediate patching is not possible, temporarily disable or limit the use of the Headinger plugin to reduce exposure.