DesignThemes LMS <= 1.0.4 - Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation
Priority MEDIUM 42CWE-269Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
The DesignThemes LMS plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Privilege Escalation in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.4. This is due to the 'dtlms_register_user_front_end' function not restricting what user roles a user can register with. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to supply the 'administrator' role during registration and gain administrator access to the site.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00399 34th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| designthemes | DesignThemes LMS | up to 1.0.4 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- DesignThemes LMS Vendordesignthemes Affected up to 1.0.4 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-13542
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-x53g-m6wg-v339
References
More designthemes vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-12814 VEDA - MultiPurpose WordPress Theme <= 4.2 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) PHP Object Injection CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-21805 WordPress WeDesignTech Ultimate Booking Addon plugin <= 1.0.1 - Account Takeover vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-37581 WordPress Kriya theme <= 3.4 - PHP Object Injection Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2025-32883 WordPress LMS theme <= 9.2 - SQL Injection Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-22325 WordPress LMS Elementor Pro plugin <= 1.0.4 - Privilege Escalation vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-21806 WordPress WeDesignTech Ultimate Booking Addon plugin <= 1.0.1 - Account Takeover vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2025-13542 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-13542 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-x53g-m6wg-v339 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences