CVE-2024-49325 in Photo Gallery Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in wpdiscover Photo Gallery Builder photo-gallery-builder allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.This issue affects Photo Gallery Builder: from n/a through <= 3.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2026
The CVE-2024-49325 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the wpdiscover Photo Gallery Builder plugin, specifically impacting versions through 3.0. This weakness resides in the photo-gallery-builder component where functionality access is not properly constrained by access control lists, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization checks that allow unauthorized users to access administrative functions and features that should be restricted to privileged users only. This misconfiguration enables attackers to bypass normal security controls and gain access to sensitive operations within the plugin's framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the plugin's access control mechanisms, where the authorization logic does not adequately verify user permissions before granting access to specific functions. This type of flaw typically occurs when developers assume that certain features are only accessible to administrators or authenticated users without implementing proper verification checks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct API calls, parameter manipulation, or social engineering techniques that trick users into performing unauthorized actions. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authorization controls that falls under the category of insufficient authorization checks, making it particularly dangerous as it allows privilege escalation and unauthorized access to administrative features.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data manipulation, content deletion, user account compromise, and potentially full system compromise if the plugin has elevated privileges. Attackers can exploit this flaw to modify gallery configurations, upload malicious files, delete or alter photo content, and gain persistent access to the affected WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate plugin functionality but can also serve as a foothold for broader attacks within the WordPress environment, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities or when the plugin has access to sensitive system resources. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in significant data loss, reputation damage, and compliance violations for organizations using affected versions.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Photo Gallery Builder plugin where the authorization flaw has been addressed, implementing additional access controls at the web server level, and conducting thorough security audits of their WordPress installations. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts, while role-based access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure proper user permissions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar authorization flaws in other plugins and themes. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and unauthorized access techniques, and organizations should consider implementing defensive measures such as web application firewalls, input validation, and proper logging mechanisms to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular patch management procedures should be established to ensure timely updates of all WordPress components and plugins to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.