Ethical Hacking News
A newly disclosed vulnerability in the OttoKit WordPress plugin has allowed threat actors to exploit vulnerable websites, creating administrative accounts with full access to their content. This article provides an in-depth look at the vulnerability, its impact, and the steps users can take to protect themselves against this emerging threat.
The OttoKit WordPress plugin has a vulnerability (CVE-2025-3102) that allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to vulnerable websites. The plugin's incomplete permission check enables attackers to exploit unconfigured sites, creating administrative accounts with full access. Around 100,000 sites use the vulnerable plugin, but only a subset is exploitable due to the need for specific configuration. Attackers are attempting to exploit the vulnerability by creating administrator accounts with randomized usernames. Cybersecurity firms have warned users to update their sites immediately to patch the issue and monitor for signs of unusual activity.
The recent disclosure of a vulnerability in the OttoKit WordPress plugin has sent shockwaves throughout the cybersecurity community, as threat actors are now exploiting this flaw to gain unauthorized access to vulnerable websites. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-3102 (CVSS score of 8.1), was discovered by researcher Michael Mazzolini on March 13, 2025, and has been actively exploited since then.
The OttoKit WordPress plugin is a popular choice among website owners who need to automate tasks across sites and apps. However, the plugin's incomplete permission check in its code has allowed attackers to exploit unconfigured sites, creating administrative accounts with full access to the site's content. This enables attackers to upload malicious plugins, alter content, serve malware or spam, and redirect visitors to malicious websites.
The vulnerability affects all versions of the OttoKit WordPress plugin up to 1.0.78, making it a widespread issue that could impact thousands of websites. Wordfence researchers have estimated that over 100,000 sites use the vulnerable plugin, but only a subset is exploitable, as the flaw requires the plugin to be unconfigured.
The attackers are attempting to exploit the vulnerability by creating administrator accounts with specific usernames, such as "xtw1838783bc". This indicates that the attackers are trying to gain control of these websites and carry out malicious activities. The use of randomized usernames makes it difficult to track the attacks, but cybersecurity firms like Wordfence and PatchStack have warned users to update their sites immediately to the latest version (1.0.79) and look for signs of unusual activity.
The impact of this vulnerability cannot be overstated. With the rise of remote work and online services, the number of potential targets for attackers has increased exponentially. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to a significant increase in cyberattacks, putting not only websites but also businesses and individuals at risk.
In light of this new threat, cybersecurity experts are urging website owners to take immediate action to patch their sites. This includes updating the OttoKit WordPress plugin to version 1.0.79, as well as regularly monitoring their sites for signs of unusual activity. Additionally, users should be aware of the risks associated with unconfigured plugins and ensure that their API keys are secure.
The recent disclosure of this vulnerability highlights the importance of cybersecurity awareness and regular updates. It is a reminder that even seemingly small vulnerabilities can have significant consequences when exploited by malicious actors. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is essential for individuals and organizations to stay vigilant and proactive in protecting themselves against emerging threats like the OttoKit WordPress plugin vulnerability.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-OttoKit-WordPress-Plugin-Vulnerability-A-Threat-to-Online-Security-ehn.shtml
https://securityaffairs.com/176461/security/ottokit-wordpress-plugin-flaw-exploitation.html
https://thehackernews.com/2025/04/ottokit-wordpress-plugin-admin-creation.html
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-exploit-wordpress-plugin-auth-bypass-hours-after-disclosure/
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-3102
https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-3102/
Published: Sat Apr 12 07:42:39 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
