CVE-2025-64268

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-64268 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Arraytics Timetics WordPress plugin, affecting versions from n/a through 1.0.44. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or modification. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5 (High), indicating significant risk due to the low attack complexity and no required privileges. As of this report, no patch is available, and no public proof-of-concept (PoC) or exploit code has been released. The EPSS score is 0.0%, suggesting low exploitation likelihood in the wild, but the risk remains high for unpatched installations.

Supply Chain & Package Security

This vulnerability affects a WordPress plugin distributed through the official WordPress plugin repository. Users are advised to monitor the plugin’s update channel and apply any security patches immediately upon release. Since the plugin is part of the WordPress ecosystem, supply chain risks include compromised updates or malicious forks.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
• Base Score: 7.5 (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 user action required.
• Scope: Unchanged (S:U) – Impact confined to the vulnerable component.
• Confidentiality Impact: None (C:N) – No data exposure.
• Integrity Impact: Low (I:L) – Limited modification of data.
• Availability Impact: None (A:N) – No denial of service.

Threat Level: High. The vulnerability is easy to exploit and requires no authentication, making it attractive for attackers seeking to manipulate data or escalate privileges within the WordPress environment.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability stems from a Missing Authorization check in the Timetics plugin. Specifically, the plugin fails to validate user permissions when processing certain AJAX actions or REST API endpoints. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to invoke functions that should be restricted to authenticated users with specific roles (e.g., administrators).

Root Cause: The plugin uses wp_ajax_* hooks without verifying the current_user_can() capability. For example, a function like timetics_update_settings() might be hooked to wp_ajax_nopriv_* (allowing unauthenticated access) or lacks a capability check entirely.

Attack Vector: An attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the WordPress site, targeting the vulnerable endpoint. The request may include parameters that modify plugin settings, create or delete events, or access sensitive data.

Impact: Successful exploitation could lead to:

• Unauthorized modification of plugin configurations.
• Creation or deletion of events (if the plugin manages calendars).
• Potential privilege escalation if the plugin integrates with user roles.

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Since no patch is available, the following is a hypothetical comparison based on common fixes for missing authorization vulnerabilities.

Vulnerable Code (timetics.php):

add_action('wp_ajax_timetics_update_settings', 'timetics_update_settings');
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_timetics_update_settings', 'timetics_update_settings');

function timetics_update_settings() {
    // Process and save settings without capability check
    update_option('timetics_settings', $_POST['settings']);
    wp_send_json_success();
}

Patched Code (Hypothetical):

add_action('wp_ajax_timetics_update_settings', 'timetics_update_settings');
// Remove the nopriv hook to require authentication
// add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_timetics_update_settings', 'timetics_update_settings');

function timetics_update_settings() {
    // Add capability check
    if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        wp_die('Unauthorized', 403);
    }
    // Process and save settings
    update_option('timetics_settings', $_POST['settings']);
    wp_send_json_success();
}

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Offensive)

Prerequisites:

• A WordPress site with Timetics plugin version <= 1.0.44.
• Network access to the target.

Exploitation Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable endpoint. Common patterns include /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action parameters.
2. Craft a request to trigger the missing authorization. Example using curl:

   curl -X POST http://target.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php \
        -d "action=timetics_update_settings&settings[option]=value"
   

3. If successful, the response will indicate success (e.g., {"success":true}).
4. For more complex attacks, enumerate other AJAX actions by analyzing the plugin’s JavaScript files.

Note: No public exploit code is available; this is a generic example.

Blue Team (Defensive)

Detection:

• Monitor for unusual AJAX requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with unknown or suspicious action parameters.
• Look for requests from unauthenticated users to actions that should require authentication.
• Use Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block requests to admin-ajax.php with nopriv actions that are not whitelisted.

Hunting:

• Search logs for POST requests to admin-ajax.php with action parameters not matching known plugin actions.
• Check for sudden changes in plugin settings or user roles.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

• Network:
  • HTTP POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with action=timetics_* parameters from unauthenticated sources.
  • Unusual User-Agent strings or repeated requests from the same IP.
• File:
  • Modified plugin files (e.g., timetics.php) with added malicious code.
  • New files in /wp-content/plugins/timetics/ directory.
• Log:
  • WordPress debug log entries showing failed capability checks or unexpected AJAX calls.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_64268_Timetics_Missing_Auth {
    meta:
        description = "Detects missing authorization in Timetics plugin"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-04-10"
        reference = "CVE-2025-64268"
    strings:
        $ajax_hook = /add_action\(['\"]wp_ajax_nopriv_timetics_/
        $no_cap_check = /function timetics_[\w]+\(\)\s*\{[^}]*?(?!current_user_can)/
    condition:
        $ajax_hook and $no_cap_check
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-64268 - Missing Authorization in Timetics Plugin
id: 8a4b3c2d-1e5f-4a7b-9c8d-0e1f2a3b4c5d
status: experimental
description: Detects unauthenticated AJAX requests to Timetics plugin endpoints
author: Valters IT
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: POST
        cs-uri-query|contains: '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php'
        cs-uri-query|contains: 'action=timetics_'
        sc-status: 200
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate plugin updates
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http any any -> any any (msg:"CVE-2025-64268 - Timetics Missing Authorization Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"POST"; http_method; content:"/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; http_uri; content:"action=timetics_"; http_client_body; classtype:attempted-admin; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Disable the Timetics plugin until a patch is available.
2. Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to block unauthenticated requests to admin-ajax.php with timetics_ actions.
3. Monitor logs for exploitation attempts.

Long-term Fix:

• Apply the official patch from Arraytics when released.
• If custom development is possible, add capability checks to all AJAX hooks:

  if (!current_user_can('manage_options')) {
      wp_die('Unauthorized', 403);
  }
  

• Regularly update all WordPress plugins and core.

Workaround:

• Use a security plugin (e.g., Wordfence) to enforce role-based access to AJAX endpoints.

Valters IT
Securing Digital Frontiers