Privilege Escalation in Redux Framework WordPress Plugin

Executive Summary

CVE-2026-12525 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Redux Framework WordPress plugin before version 4.5.13. It allows users with at least the Subscriber role to gain Administrator privileges by submitting a crafted value while updating their own profile. This occurs because the plugin does not restrict which user meta keys can be written when saving custom profile fields.

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Detection Guidance

Check the installed version of the Redux Framework plugin in WordPress. If it is below 4.5.13, the system is vulnerable. Use WordPress admin panel or run a command like 'wp plugin list' in WP-CLI to verify the version.

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Impact Analysis

If you are using the Redux Framework plugin before version 4.5.13 with the user-profile feature enabled, an attacker with a Subscriber role or higher could exploit this to gain full administrative access to your WordPress site. This could lead to complete site takeover, data theft, or further attacks.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, violating compliance requirements under GDPR and HIPAA. Unauthorized privilege escalation may result in data breaches, unauthorized modifications, or exposure of protected health or personal information, leading to legal and financial penalties.

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Mitigation Strategies

Update the Redux Framework plugin to version 4.5.13 or later immediately. Disable the user-profile feature if not needed. Review user roles and privileges for any unauthorized changes.

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