CVE-2025-66534 is a missing authorization vulnerability identified in Elated-Themes' WordPress theme product, The Aisle, affecting all versions up to and including 2.9. This vulnerability arises from incorrectly configured access control security levels, allowing attackers with low-level privileges to bypass authorization checks. The vulnerability is network exploitable without user interaction but requires the attacker to have some level of authenticated access (PR:L). The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 reflects a high severity, with impacts rated as high on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means an attacker can potentially access sensitive data, modify content or configurations, and disrupt service availability. The flaw likely stems from missing or improperly enforced authorization logic in key theme functionalities, which could allow privilege escalation or unauthorized administrative actions. No public exploits are known yet, but the vulnerability's nature and severity make it a critical risk for websites using this theme. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate attention to privilege management and monitoring. Given the widespread use of WordPress and themes like The Aisle in European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat vector for website compromise, data breaches, and service disruption.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer or business data hosted on WordPress sites using The Aisle theme. Attackers could manipulate website content, inject malicious code, or disrupt website availability, damaging brand reputation and causing financial losses. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means data breaches and defacements are plausible outcomes. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, and professional services that rely heavily on WordPress for their online presence are particularly vulnerable. Additionally, compromised websites could be leveraged as launchpads for further attacks within corporate networks or to distribute malware to European users. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score underscores the urgency of mitigation. Regulatory compliance risks also arise if personal data is exposed, potentially triggering GDPR penalties.

1. Immediately audit user privileges on WordPress sites using The Aisle theme to ensure minimal necessary access is granted, especially limiting low-privilege users from sensitive functions. 2. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual access patterns or privilege escalation attempts. 3. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting theme functionalities. 4. Segregate WordPress administrative access behind VPNs or IP allowlists to reduce exposure. 5. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. 6. Stay alert for official patches or updates from Elated-Themes and apply them immediately upon release. 7. Conduct penetration testing focused on authorization controls within the theme to identify and remediate any other weaknesses. 8. Educate site administrators about the risks of privilege misuse and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as MFA. 9. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing The Aisle theme if patching is delayed and risk is unacceptable.