CVE-2025-66159 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the merkulove Walker for Elementor plugin, a WordPress extension designed to enhance the Elementor page builder. The vulnerability arises from improperly configured access control mechanisms that fail to verify whether a user has the necessary permissions before performing certain actions. This allows an attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) to execute operations that should be restricted, potentially modifying content or disrupting site functionality. The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.4 reflects a medium severity, with network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), no confidentiality impact (C:N), but with integrity (I:L) and availability (A:L) impacts. The vulnerability affects all versions up to 1.1.6, with no patches currently available and no known exploits in the wild. Given the plugin's integration with WordPress sites, exploitation could lead to unauthorized content changes or denial of service conditions. The lack of user interaction and low complexity make exploitation feasible for authenticated users with limited rights, increasing the risk in environments where user privilege separation is weak or where multiple users have access to the WordPress backend. The vulnerability was reserved in November 2025 and published at the end of December 2025, indicating recent discovery. Organizations relying on this plugin should prioritize access control reviews and prepare for patch deployment once available.

For European organizations, the missing authorization vulnerability in Walker for Elementor can lead to unauthorized modifications of website content or disruption of website availability. This can damage brand reputation, reduce customer trust, and potentially cause financial losses due to downtime or defacement. Since the vulnerability requires only limited privileges, insider threats or compromised low-privilege accounts could be leveraged to escalate impact. Public-facing websites using this plugin are particularly at risk, as attackers could manipulate content or disrupt services without needing to compromise higher-level credentials. The integrity and availability impacts may also affect e-commerce platforms, government portals, and other critical services relying on WordPress and this plugin. Additionally, regulatory compliance under GDPR may be challenged if unauthorized changes lead to data exposure or service interruptions. The absence of patches increases exposure time, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation.

1. Immediately audit user roles and permissions within WordPress to ensure the principle of least privilege is enforced, limiting access to only necessary users. 2. Restrict access to the WordPress admin dashboard using IP whitelisting or VPNs to reduce the attack surface. 3. Monitor logs for unusual activities, such as unexpected content changes or administrative actions by low-privilege users. 4. Disable or remove the merkulove Walker for Elementor plugin if it is not essential, or replace it with alternative plugins that have a better security track record. 5. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin endpoints. 6. Stay informed about vendor updates and apply patches promptly once they become available. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on WordPress plugins and access control mechanisms. 8. Educate administrators and content managers about the risks of privilege misuse and the importance of secure credential management.