CVE-2025-8999 Sydney <= 2.56 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Limited Theme Options Update
Authenticated subscribers can modify theme module settings due to missing capability checks in the Sydney WordPress theme.
- 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-2025-8999?
CVE-2025-8999 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in athemes Sydney, published on 17 Sep 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The Sydney theme for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the 'activate_modules' function in all versions up to, and including, 2.56. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Subscriber-level access and above, to activate or deactivate various theme modules.
Weakness: CWE-862
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-8999?
How do I fix CVE-2025-8999?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-8999 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-2025-8999 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-8999 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-8p5x-g3gq-fwxp.