WordPress Security Update: Active Attacks Target the WP Freeio Plugin and Patch Details

Community members are seeing active exploitation chatter around a critical vulnerability in the WP Freeio plugin. The security team behind WordPress intelligence flagged an unauthenticated privilege escalation issue that allowed an attacker to grant themselves administrative access during registration. Wordfence noted that attackers began exploiting the issue in late September 2025, and a patched version (1.2.22) was released on October 9, 2025. The Wordfence Firewall has already blocked thousands of exploit attempts, underscoring the urgency of updating. Wordfence teams also rolled out firewall protections for premium users on October 8, 2025, with free users receiving protection after a standard 30-day delay (November 7, 2025).

In the timeline of the disclosure: on September 25th, 2025, a Privilege Escalation vulnerability submission was received for WP Freeio. The vendor shipped the patched version on October 9, 2025, and the vulnerability was first documented in the Wordfence Intelligence database on October 10, 2025. Exploit activity reportedly continued from October 10th onward, and by late fall, Defender systems had already blocked tens of thousands of attempts. The situation prompted ongoing guidance for site owners to update promptly and to monitor for suspicious activity.

For site operators, the core takeaways are clear: update to the patched version, verify that new registrations cannot bypass normal role assignment, and enable available firewall protections where possible. The aim is to reduce exposure while the WP Freeio ecosystem stabilizes after the patch. If Wordfence or another security partner publishes additional guidance, it will be prudent to follow those advisories closely. In the meantime, owners should plan for routine security hygiene—backups, least-privilege review, and monitoring for unusual admin activity.

The following offers are available

• Operation: Maximum Impact Challenge — Now through November 10, 2025, eligible submissions in software with at least 5,000 active installations can earn 2X bounty rewards. This promotion is designed to reward bold vulnerability research across the WordPress ecosystem.
• The LFInder Challenge — Now through November 24, 2025, Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerabilities in software with at least 25 active installations are in-scope for all researchers and, on top of other rewards, earn a 30% bonus on all LFI vulnerability submissions not already increased by another promotion.
• Join The Bug Bounty Program today: Researchers are encouraged to submit high-impact findings and pursue meaningful rewards in the WordPress security space.
• Read the full security bulletin and related posts to stay informed about the patched WP Freeio plugin and the evolving threat landscape.

Readers who want to see additional context from related sources can explore security advisories and educational content across linked resources. For example, a trusted industry resource often highlights related findings and defensive best practices as audiences review these events. See a few recommended resources below for quick reading, each linked for convenience. Shutterstock, Crocs US, Adagio Teas, Hotels.com, TestClear).

What happened and what it means for site owners

1. Vulnerability: An unauthenticated attacker could escalate privileges by manipulating the user role during registration, enabling full admin access on affected WP Freeio deployments.
2. Patch timeline: The vendor released WP Freeio version 1.2.22 on October 9, 2025. The vulnerability was disclosed on October 10, 2025 in Wordfence Intelligence. Exploit activity began on October 10th and Wordfence reports substantial blocking activity since then.
3. Immediate actions: Update to version 1.2.22 or newer as soon as possible, and review user roles and registrations for unexpected changes. Deploy firewall rules where available to shield against known exploit patterns.
4. Ongoing protections: Premium Wordfence customers received firewall protections on October 8, 2025; free users gained protection after the standard 30-day delay (November 7, 2025). Site owners should verify that protections are active and monitor for anomalous admin events.

Current Bug Bounty Promotions

• Operation: Maximum Impact Challenge — Now through November 10, 2025. Earn 2X bounty rewards for all in-scope submissions in software with at least 5,000 active installations.
• The LFInder Challenge — Now through November 24, 2025. All Local File Inclusion vulnerabilities in software with at least 25 active installs are in-scope for all researchers, plus a 30% bonus on these submissions.
• Join The Wordfence Bug Bounty Program today: Submit bold, earn big, and contribute to the WordPress security community.

Top 4 ways to benefit from these opportunities

1. Stay informed by following the official Wordfence updates and related security posts, especially those detailing new patches and protective rules. This helps ensure responses stay aligned with the latest guidance.
2. Update affected plugins promptly. In this case, WP Freeio users should apply the 1.2.22 patch or newer as soon as possible to close the exposed vector.
3. Enable available firewall protections and review user roles and registrations to minimize the risk of privilege escalation going forward.
4. Engage with the bug bounty program in a responsible manner. Focus on findings that improve overall WordPress ecosystem security and share credible, reproducible results with the appropriate channels.

For readers curious about ongoing protections or seeking additional resources, reputable security discussions and educational content can provide helpful context. When browsing, it’s sensible to look for official “special offers” and security-related incentive pages on trusted sites to understand how defense-minded communities reward responsible disclosure and proactive defense.

Note: This article presents information from security advisories and community discussions in a third-person, general-audience tone. It avoids any personal data, addresses, or affiliate-specific details and focuses on the vulnerability, patch timeline, recommended actions, and related bug bounty incentives. The reader’s primary objective should be to safeguard their WordPress sites by applying the patch, enabling protections, and participating in beneficial, responsible security research where appropriate.

Additional context and updated guidance may appear in follow-up posts or advisories. If WordPress administrators want to learn more about the WP Freeio vulnerability or related defensive steps, they can review official posts from trusted security teams and the broader WordPress community for ongoing recommendations.

Links consulted in this context include a selection of advertiser resources for quick reference, each linked with rel=”sponsored” as appropriate. Shutterstock, Crocs US, Adagio Teas, Hotels.com, TestClear.