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Hackers are exploiting a critical privilege escalation flaw in OttoKit (SureTrig...
A critical security flaw in the widely used OttoKit WordPress plugin (formerly SureTriggers) is being actively exploited by hackers to hijack websites by creating unauthorized administrator accounts. Tracked as **CVE-2025-27007**, this vulnerability exposes over 100,000 WordPress sites to unauthenticated privilege escalation attacks, enabling threat actors to take full control of vulnerable installations. With exploitation activity surging since its public disclosure on May 5, 2025, cybersecurity experts urge administrators to patch immediately and audit their systems for signs of compromise.
### **Anatomy of CVE-2025-27007**
**OttoKit**, a popular automation plugin for WordPress, allows users to integrate their websites with third-party services and automate workflows. However, a logic flaw in its REST API endpoints opened the door for attackers to bypass authentication checks.
**Root Cause**:
The vulnerability resides in the `create_wp_connection` function, which failed to validate user permissions when application passwords were not configured. Attackers exploited this oversight to send malicious API requests, bypassing authentication and granting themselves administrative privileges.
**How Exploitation Works**:
1. **Initial Access**: Attackers target the `/wp-json/sure-triggers/v1/create_wp_connection` endpoint, mimicking legitimate integration requests.
2. **Brute-Force Tactics**: Hackers guess or brute-force administrator usernames (e.g., “admin”) and inject random passwords, fake access keys, and spoofed email addresses (e.g., `admin@ottokit[.]com`).
3. **Privilege Escalation**: Successful exploitation triggers follow-up requests to `/sure-triggers/v1/automation/action`, leveraging the `"type_event": "create_user_if_not_exists"` payload to silently create new admin accounts.
**Patchstack**, the vulnerability disclosure platform, [confirmed](https://patchstack.com/articles/additional-critical-ottokit-formerly-suretriggers-vulnerability-patched/) that researcher Denver Jackson reported the flaw on April 11, 2025. The plugin’s developers released a fix in **version 1.0.83** on April 21, adding validation checks for access keys.
### **Timeline of Exploitation and Disclosure**
- **April 11, 2025**: Vulnerability reported to Patchstack.
- **April 12**: Vendor notified.
- **April 21**: Patched version (1.0.83) released.
- **April 24**: Most users force-updated to the secure version.
- **May 5**: Patchstack publishes advisory.
- **May 5, 90 minutes later**: Active exploitation begins.
### **Why This Vulnerability Matters**
1. **High Impact, Low Complexity**: Attackers need no prior authentication or advanced tools—only basic knowledge of WordPress APIs.
2. **Stealthy Attacks**: The exploit leaves minimal traces, as rogue admin accounts can be masked with legitimate-looking credentials.
3. **Widespread Risk**: OttoKit’s 100,000+ install base includes e-commerce sites, blogs, and enterprise platforms, amplifying potential damage.
### **Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)**
Website administrators should scrutinize their systems for:
- **Suspicious API Activity**:
- Frequent POST requests to `/create_wp_connection` or `/automation/action`.
- Use of invalid access keys (e.g., “ottokit_1234”) or randomized strings.
- **Unexpected Admin Users**: Accounts with usernames like “admin,” “wpadmin,” or emails such as `admin@ottokit[.]com`.
- **Log Entries**: REST API calls from unfamiliar IP addresses, particularly following the May 5 disclosure.
### **Mitigation and Remediation Steps**
1. **Immediate Patching**:
- Confirm OttoKit is updated to **v1.0.83 or later**.
- Manually update if auto-updates were disabled.
2. **User Account Audit**:
- Check WordPress user lists for unrecognized admins.
- Remove suspicious accounts and enforce strong passwords.
3. **Log Analysis**:
- Use security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri to scan for IoCs.
- Review `wp-admin` and REST API access logs for brute-force patterns.
4. **Harden Security**:
- **Disable Unused Plugins**: Reduce attack surfaces.
- **Enforce Application Passwords**: Require unique passwords for integrations.
- **Deploy a WAF**: Block malicious payloads targeting OttoKit endpoints.
This incident marks the **second critical flaw** in OttoKit since April 2025, following **CVE-2025-3102**, another authentication bypass bug. The recurrence highlights systemic risks in third-party plugins, which power 60% of WordPress sites but often lack rigorous security testing.
- **Zero-Day Risks**: Attackers increasingly exploit vulnerabilities within hours of public disclosure.
- **Supply Chain Threats**: A single vulnerable plugin can jeopardize entire website ecosystems.
- **Proactive Monitoring**: Real-time logging and intrusion detection systems (IDS) are critical for early threat detection.
_“Immediately update OttoKit and audit user roles. Assume compromise if suspicious activity is detected.”_
