CVE-2025-8488 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the WordPress plugin Ultimate Addons for Elementor (formerly known as Elementor Header & Footer Builder) 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 within the plugin. Due to the absence of proper capability verification, any authenticated user with Subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this flaw to modify compatibility options without appropriate permissions. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the system fails to enforce proper access control before allowing sensitive operations. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, reflecting a medium impact primarily due to the integrity loss without affecting confidentiality or availability. The attack vector is network-based (remote), requires low attack complexity, and only requires privileges equivalent to a Subscriber role, which is a low-level authenticated user in WordPress. No user interaction is needed, and the scope is unchanged, meaning the vulnerability affects only the plugin's data and not the entire system. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers who have gained low-level access to WordPress sites using this plugin to alter plugin settings, potentially facilitating further attacks or misconfigurations. The affected versions include all versions up to and including 2.4.6, with no patch links currently available, indicating that a fix may be pending or not yet publicly released.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Ultimate Addons for Elementor plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized modification of plugin settings by low-privilege authenticated users. While the direct impact does not compromise confidentiality or availability, the integrity of site configurations can be undermined. This could lead to misconfigurations that might facilitate privilege escalation, injection of malicious code, or disruption of site functionality. Organizations relying on this plugin for critical website components such as headers and footers may experience defacement or altered site behavior, potentially damaging brand reputation and user trust. Additionally, attackers could leverage this vulnerability as a foothold to conduct further attacks within the WordPress environment. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe for business and governmental websites, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of sectors, including e-commerce, media, and public services. The medium severity score suggests that while the threat is not critical, it should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation, especially in environments where multiple users have authenticated access.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should first verify if their WordPress installations use the Ultimate Addons for Elementor plugin, particularly versions up to 2.4.6. Until an official patch is released, organizations should restrict user roles to the minimum necessary privileges, avoiding granting Subscriber-level or higher access to untrusted users. Implementing strict user access controls and monitoring for unusual changes in plugin settings can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider temporarily disabling the plugin if feasible or replacing it with alternative plugins that do not have this vulnerability. Regularly auditing WordPress user roles and permissions, employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect unauthorized POST requests to the affected callback function, and maintaining up-to-date backups of website configurations will aid in recovery if exploitation occurs. Once a patch is available, prompt application of updates is critical. Finally, educating site administrators about the risks of granting unnecessary privileges and monitoring plugin updates from Brainstormforce will help maintain security posture.