CVE-2025-69297 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability in the GhostPool Aardvark Plugin, specifically versions up to and including 2.19. The vulnerability arises from incorrectly configured access control security levels, which fail to properly verify whether a user has the necessary permissions to perform certain actions within the plugin. This missing authorization flaw means that an attacker, potentially without authentication or with minimal privileges, could exploit the plugin to execute unauthorized operations. The Aardvark Plugin is commonly used in WordPress environments to enhance functionality, and its compromise could lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or other malicious activities depending on the plugin’s capabilities. The vulnerability was reserved at the end of 2025 and published in early 2026, with no CVSS score assigned and no known exploits detected in the wild at this time. The lack of a CVSS score requires an assessment based on the nature of the vulnerability: missing authorization is a critical security failure that often leads to privilege escalation or unauthorized data manipulation. The plugin’s market penetration and usage patterns will influence the scope of affected systems. Since no patch links are currently available, organizations must rely on configuration reviews and monitoring until official fixes are released.

The primary impact of this vulnerability is unauthorized access and potential privilege escalation within systems using the GhostPool Aardvark Plugin. Attackers exploiting this flaw could bypass intended access controls, leading to unauthorized data disclosure, modification, or deletion. This compromises the confidentiality and integrity of affected systems. Depending on the plugin’s role, availability could also be affected if attackers disrupt normal operations. Organizations relying on this plugin for critical website functionality or e-commerce may face operational disruptions, reputational damage, and potential regulatory compliance issues. The absence of known exploits currently limits immediate widespread impact, but the vulnerability’s nature makes it a high-risk target for future exploitation. The broad use of WordPress and related plugins worldwide means that many organizations could be affected, especially those that have not implemented strict access control policies or monitoring.

1. Immediately audit and review access control configurations related to the Aardvark Plugin to ensure that only authorized users have permissions to sensitive functions. 2. Temporarily disable or restrict the use of the Aardvark Plugin in environments where it is not essential until a patch is available. 3. Monitor logs and user activities for unusual access patterns or unauthorized attempts to use the plugin’s features. 4. Apply principle of least privilege to all user roles interacting with the plugin to minimize potential exploitation impact. 5. Stay informed through official GhostPool channels and security advisories for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability. 6. Consider implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin. 7. Conduct penetration testing focused on access control mechanisms within the plugin to identify and remediate weaknesses proactively.