CVE-2025-5486 WP Email Debug 1.0 - 1.1.0 - Missing Authorization to Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation via Password Reset
Unauthenticated attackers can escalate privileges to administrator by manipulating email debug settings to intercept password reset links.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2025-5486?
CVE-2025-5486 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in dr_scythe WP Email Debug, published on 6 Jun 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The WP Email Debug plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to privilege escalation due to a missing capability check on the WPMDBUG_handle_settings() function in versions 1.0 to 1.1.0. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to enable debugging and send all emails to an attacker controlled address and then trigger a password reset for an administrator to gain access to an administrator account.
Weakness: CWE-862
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-5486?
How do I fix CVE-2025-5486?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-5486 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.
Is CVE-2025-5486 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-5486 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-c6rq-p3h5-mr8v.