CVE-2025-14486 in PixelPlay Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/22/2026
The PixelPlay plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized API key deletion due to missing authorization checks in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.2. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary API keys (Pixabay, Unsplash, Pixels, OpenAI) configured by site administrators via the 'clear_api_type' parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2026
The PixelPlay plugin for WordPress contains a critical security flaw rooted in insufficient access control mechanisms within its administrative interface logic. Specifically, the vulnerability arises from missing authorization checks associated with the clear_api_type parameter used to manage external service credentials. In secure software design principles, any action that modifies system state or deletes sensitive configuration data must be protected by robust authentication and authorization protocols to ensure that only privileged users can execute such operations. The absence of these checks in versions up to 1.0.2 allows the functionality intended for site administrators to be exploited by external actors without requiring valid session tokens, cookies, or credentials. This represents a fundamental failure in implementing proper access control policies, which is essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of application configurations.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of Broken Access Control as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) standard, specifically aligning with CWE-862: Missing Authorization. The attacker can interact directly with the plugin's API endpoints or form submissions to trigger the deletion routine. By manipulating the clear_api_type parameter, an unauthenticated user can target specific types of configured API keys, including those for Pixabay, Unsplash, Pixels, and OpenAI services. Since these keys are often used to fetch media assets or generate content dynamically on the website, their removal disrupts the normal operation of the site's features that rely on these external data sources. The lack of server-side validation means the application blindly processes the request based solely on client-supplied input without verifying if the requester has the requisite permissions to perform such destructive actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for website owners and their end-users. The deletion of API keys effectively breaks functionality that depends on these external services. For instance, removing Pixabay or Unsplash keys will prevent image galleries from loading new content, while deleting OpenAI keys may disable AI-driven text generation features. This leads to a degraded user experience and potential loss of trust in the website's reliability. Furthermore, if an attacker can repeatedly delete and force re-configuration of these keys, they might induce denial-of-service conditions or disrupt automated workflows that depend on consistent API access. In more complex scenarios involving OpenAI integration, such disruptions could halt content generation pipelines entirely, impacting business operations for sites relying on AI-generated material.
This vulnerability maps to the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to Resource Hijacking and potentially Impactful actions like Data Destruction or Service Disruption. While it does not directly lead to data exfiltration in this specific instance, the ability to alter configuration settings without authorization is a precursor to more severe attacks where an attacker might inject malicious API keys to redirect traffic or abuse billing limits on external services. The exploitation vector is straightforward and requires no prior authentication, making it highly accessible to automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers who routinely probe WordPress installations for misconfigured plugins.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required by upgrading the PixelPlay plugin to a version newer than 1.0.2 where these authorization checks have been implemented correctly. Site administrators should verify that all administrative actions involving sensitive configuration changes require valid session validation and role-based access control verification before execution. Additionally, implementing CSRF tokens for state-changing requests adds an extra layer of protection against unauthorized command execution from malicious websites or scripts. Regular security audits and adherence to secure coding standards that prioritize input validation and permission checks are essential practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future updates or other plugins within the WordPress ecosystem.