What the vulnerability does
01Description
The WP Human Resource Management plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation due to missing authorization in the ajax_insert_employee() and update_empoyee() functions in versions 2.0.0 through 2.2.17. The AJAX handler reads the client-supplied $_POST['role'] and, after basic cleaning via hrm_clean(), passes it directly to wp_insert_user() and later to $user->set_role() without verifying that the current user is allowed to assign that role. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Employee-level access and above, to elevate their privileges to administrator.
Explanation of Vulnerability in Simple Terms
02Summary
WP Human Resource Management versions 2.0.0 through 2.2.17 lack proper authorization checks, allowing authenticated users with low privileges to read, modify, or delete sensitive HR data. An attacker with a basic user account can access and alter employee records, payroll information, and other confidential HR functions without restriction. Organizations using this plugin should update immediately to a patched version.
What an attacker can do
03Attacker Capabilities
Read, modify, or delete HR data including employee records and payroll information.
Potential impact on your site
04Site Impact
Unauthorized access to and modification of sensitive HR data by any logged-in user, risking data breach and compliance violations.
Conditions required to exploit
05Prerequisites
Attacker must have a low-privilege user account on the site (e.g., subscriber or contributor role).
Key dates
06Disclosure timeline
July 4, 2025
CVE published
July 8, 2025
Record updated
