CVE-2025-68982 is a missing authorization vulnerability identified in the DesignThemes LMS Addon, a plugin component used in learning management systems. The flaw arises from incorrectly configured access control security levels, allowing attackers with low privileges (PR:L) to bypass authorization checks and perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.6. Exploitation requires no user interaction (UI:N) and can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity (C:H/I:H) but does not affect availability (A:N). This means attackers can potentially access sensitive data or modify LMS content without proper permissions, leading to data breaches or manipulation of educational materials. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no official patches have been released yet. The vulnerability was published on December 30, 2025, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1, indicating a high severity level. The root cause is the failure to enforce proper authorization checks within the addon, which is critical for maintaining secure access boundaries in LMS environments. Given the widespread use of LMS platforms in education and corporate training, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of learning data and user information.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-68982 can be substantial, especially for educational institutions, corporate training providers, and any entities relying on the DesignThemes LMS Addon. Unauthorized access could lead to exposure of sensitive personal data of students and employees, including grades, personal identifiers, and training records, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Integrity compromise could allow attackers to alter course content, assessments, or user permissions, undermining trust in the LMS and potentially causing operational disruptions. Although availability is not directly impacted, the reputational damage and compliance penalties resulting from data breaches or unauthorized modifications could be severe. Organizations in Europe must consider the regulatory implications and the potential for targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability to gain footholds in educational or corporate networks.

Immediate mitigation steps include conducting a thorough audit of access control configurations within the DesignThemes LMS Addon and the broader LMS environment. Organizations should implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) and verify that privilege levels are correctly enforced. Network segmentation and monitoring for anomalous access patterns related to the LMS addon can help detect exploitation attempts. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or restricting the addon’s functionality where feasible, especially for users with low privileges. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable endpoints. Additionally, enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for LMS administrative accounts to reduce the risk of privilege escalation. Regularly review logs for unauthorized access attempts and prepare incident response plans tailored to LMS compromise scenarios. Once patches become available, prioritize their deployment in all affected environments.