CVE-2025-14357: 
WordPress vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-14357 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Mega Store WooCommerce theme for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 5.9. The flaw exists in the setup_widgets() function within core/includes/importer/whizzie.php, where a missing capability check allows authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or above to create arbitrary pages and modify site settings. It was published on February 19, 2026, and carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (Medium) (Red Hat CVE).

The root cause is classified as CWE-862 (Missing Authorization): the setup_widgets() function in core/includes/importer/whizzie.php does not perform a capability check before executing privileged operations, allowing any authenticated user — including those with only Subscriber-level roles — to invoke it. An attacker can send crafted authenticated HTTP requests to trigger this function, resulting in unauthorized page creation and modification of site-wide settings. No complex preconditions are required beyond having a valid WordPress account on the target site (Red Hat CVE, Infinit Sec).

Successful exploitation allows an authenticated attacker with minimal privileges to create arbitrary WordPress pages and alter site-wide settings, compromising the integrity of the affected WordPress installation. While confidentiality and availability are not directly impacted, unauthorized modification of site content and settings could facilitate defacement, phishing page injection, or further privilege escalation depending on site configuration. The scope is limited to the affected WordPress instance (Red Hat CVE).

No public exploit code or active in-the-wild exploitation has been reported for CVE-2025-14357 as of the available data. The EPSS score is approximately 0.026%, indicating a low probability of exploitation in the near term. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, and no threat actor attribution has been identified (Red Hat CVE).

1. Reconnaissance: Identify WordPress sites using the Mega Store WooCommerce theme version 5.9 or earlier, using tools like WPScan or manual inspection of theme metadata.
2. Obtain Subscriber-level access: Register for a WordPress account on the target site (if open registration is enabled) or use existing low-privilege credentials.
3. Trigger the vulnerable function: Send an authenticated HTTP request (e.g., via a crafted POST or AJAX request) that invokes the setup_widgets() function in core/includes/importer/whizzie.php, bypassing the missing capability check.
4. Create arbitrary pages or modify settings: Leverage the function's execution to create new WordPress pages with attacker-controlled content or alter site-wide settings, potentially injecting malicious content or redirects (Infinit Sec).

• Logs: WordPress access logs showing authenticated POST requests to endpoints invoking setup_widgets() or related importer functions from low-privilege user accounts; unexpected page creation events in WordPress activity logs attributed to Subscriber-level users.
• File System: Unexpected new pages or posts created in the WordPress database with content not authored by administrators; modifications to site settings (e.g., wp_options table) not initiated by admin users.
• Process/Application: WordPress audit logs (if enabled via plugins such as WP Activity Log) recording unauthorized use of widget setup or importer functionality by non-admin accounts.

Users should update the Mega Store WooCommerce theme to a version beyond 5.9 that includes a proper capability check in the setup_widgets() function. As an interim workaround, site administrators can restrict user registration to prevent untrusted users from obtaining Subscriber-level accounts, or temporarily deactivate the theme's importer functionality if not needed. Monitoring WordPress user activity logs for unexpected page creation or settings changes by low-privilege accounts is also recommended (Red Hat CVE).