Description
The ONLYOFFICE Docs plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation due to missing authorization within its oo.callback REST endpoint in versions 1.1.0 to 2.2.0. The plugin’s permission callback only verifies that the supplied, encrypted attachment ID maps to an existing attachment post, but does not verify the requester’s identity or capabilities. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to log in as an arbitrary user.
EPSS Score:
0%
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2025-22503
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
Vulnerability Description:
The ONLYOFFICE Docs plugin for WordPress is susceptible to a privilege escalation vulnerability due to inadequate authorization checks within its oo.callback REST endpoint. This flaw affects versions 1.1.0 to 2.2.0. The plugin's permission callback only verifies the existence of an encrypted attachment ID but fails to authenticate the requester's identity or capabilities. This oversight allows unauthenticated attackers to log in as any user.
Severity Evaluation:
The vulnerability has a CVSS Base Score of 9.8, which is classified as critical. The CVSS vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H indicates the following:
- Attack Vector (AV): Network (N)
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L)
- Privileges Required (PR): None (N)
- User Interaction (UI): None (N)
- Scope (S): Unchanged (U)
- Confidentiality (C): High (H)
- Integrity (I): High (H)
- Availability (A): High (H)
This high severity score underscores the critical nature of the vulnerability, as it can be exploited remotely without any special privileges or user interaction, leading to significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
Attack Vectors:
- Unauthenticated Access: An attacker can exploit the vulnerability without needing to authenticate, making it a highly accessible attack vector.
- Privilege Escalation: By manipulating the encrypted attachment ID, an attacker can impersonate any user, including administrators, gaining full control over the WordPress site.
Exploitation Methods:
- REST API Exploitation: The attacker can send crafted requests to the
oo.callbackREST endpoint, bypassing the inadequate authorization checks. - Session Hijacking: Once authenticated as an arbitrary user, the attacker can perform actions with the privileges of that user, potentially leading to data theft, unauthorized modifications, or complete site takeover.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
Affected Software:
- ONLYOFFICE Docs plugin for WordPress
- Versions: 1.1.0 to 2.2.0
Affected Systems:
- Any WordPress installation using the vulnerable versions of the ONLYOFFICE Docs plugin.
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
Immediate Actions:
- Update the Plugin: Ensure that the ONLYOFFICE Docs plugin is updated to a version that addresses this vulnerability (version 2.2.1 or later).
- Disable the Plugin: If an update is not immediately available, consider disabling the plugin until a fix is released.
Long-Term Mitigations:
- Regular Audits: Conduct regular security audits of all plugins and third-party integrations.
- Access Controls: Implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms for all REST endpoints.
- Monitoring: Use security monitoring tools to detect and respond to suspicious activities.
5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape
Regulatory Compliance:
- GDPR: The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to personal data, potentially violating GDPR regulations and resulting in significant fines.
- NIS Directive: Organizations in critical sectors may face additional scrutiny and penalties under the NIS Directive for failing to secure their systems adequately.
Economic Impact:
- Business Disruption: Compromised WordPress sites could lead to business disruptions, financial losses, and reputational damage.
- Incident Response Costs: Organizations may incur substantial costs related to incident response, forensic investigations, and remediation efforts.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
Vulnerability Details:
- Endpoint:
oo.callbackREST endpoint - Issue: Missing authorization checks for the requester's identity and capabilities
- Exploit: Crafted requests with manipulated encrypted attachment IDs
Code References:
- Class-onlyoffice-plugin-callback.php: Line 57 (https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/onlyoffice/tags/2.2.0/public/views/class-onlyoffice-plugin-callback.php#L57)
- Class-onlyoffice-plugin-public.php: Line 111 (https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/onlyoffice/tags/2.2.0/public/class-onlyoffice-plugin-public.php#L111)
Recommendations for Developers:
- Authorization Checks: Implement robust authorization checks to verify the requester's identity and capabilities.
- Encryption Validation: Ensure that encrypted attachment IDs are validated against the requester's session or user context.
- Security Best Practices: Follow secure coding practices and conduct thorough code reviews to identify and mitigate similar vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The privilege escalation vulnerability in the ONLYOFFICE Docs plugin for WordPress is a critical issue that requires immediate attention. Organizations should prioritize updating the plugin to a secure version and implement additional security measures to protect against potential exploits. The European cybersecurity landscape demands vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard against such vulnerabilities, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and maintaining the integrity of digital assets.