CVE-2025-8944Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Subscriber-level setting modification via unchecked AJAX handler

Published Sep 5, 2025 · Updated Sep 5, 2025

Missing authorization in OceanWP before 4.1.2 allows remote authenticated users to change the theme's darkMod setting through AJAX. The ocean_update_search_box_light_mode AJAX handler accepts a caller-supplied darkMode value and updates darkMod without a capability check. Subscriber-level access is sufficient; the demonstrated consequence is limited to altering that theme setting.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in OceanWP before 4.1.2 allows remote authenticated users to change the theme's darkMod setting through AJAX. The ocean_update_search_box_light_mode AJAX handler accepts a caller-supplied darkMode value and updates darkMod without a capability check. Subscriber-level access is sufficient; the demonstrated consequence is limited to altering that theme setting.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-8944
Published
Sep 5, 2025
Updated
Sep 5, 2025
Vendor
OceanWP
Product
OceanWP
Classifications
CWE-863, CWE-862, T1565.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 5, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 5, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <4.1.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OceanWP · OceanWPversion=0 <4.1.2

Published CVSS scores

4.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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