CVE-2025-8488 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the Ultimate Addons for Elementor plugin (formerly Elementor Header & Footer Builder) for WordPress, developed by Brainstormforce. The vulnerability arises from a missing authorization check in the function save_hfe_compatibility_option_callback(), which is responsible for saving compatibility option settings. This flaw allows any authenticated user with at least Subscriber-level privileges to modify these settings without proper authorization. Since the capability check is absent, attackers with low-level access can escalate their influence by altering plugin configuration data, potentially impacting site behavior or security. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.4.6. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.3, reflecting a medium severity rating, with an attack vector of network (remote), low attack complexity, requiring privileges (low-level authenticated user), no user interaction, and impacting integrity only (no confidentiality or availability impact). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating a failure to enforce proper access control on sensitive operations.

For European organizations using WordPress websites with the Ultimate Addons for Elementor plugin, this vulnerability could allow low-privileged users (such as subscribers or contributors) to modify plugin settings that may influence site layout or functionality. While the direct impact on confidentiality and availability is minimal, unauthorized modification of plugin options could be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks, such as injecting malicious content, redirecting users, or bypassing other security controls. This risk is particularly relevant for organizations with multi-user WordPress environments where users have varying privilege levels. Given WordPress's widespread use in Europe for corporate, governmental, and SME websites, exploitation could lead to reputational damage, regulatory scrutiny under GDPR if user data is indirectly affected, and operational disruptions. The medium severity suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it should be addressed promptly to prevent potential misuse.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify if the Ultimate Addons for Elementor plugin is installed and determine the version in use. Until an official patch is released, organizations should restrict user roles to the minimum necessary privileges, avoiding granting Subscriber or higher roles to untrusted users. Implementing strict role management and monitoring changes to plugin settings can help detect unauthorized modifications. Additionally, organizations can apply temporary custom code or use security plugins to enforce capability checks on the save_hfe_compatibility_option_callback() function, effectively blocking unauthorized access. Regular backups and integrity monitoring of WordPress configuration files and database entries related to the plugin are recommended to quickly restore any unauthorized changes. Finally, organizations should monitor official Brainstormforce and WordPress security advisories for patches and apply them promptly once available.