CVE-2025-24697 in Image Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/03/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Realwebcare Image Gallery – Responsive Photo Gallery allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels. This issue affects Image Gallery – Responsive Photo Gallery: from n/a through 1.0.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The CVE-2025-24697 vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw within the Realwebcare Image Gallery plugin, specifically targeting versions through 1.0.5. This missing authorization issue stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels that permit unauthorized users to exploit functionality they should not have access to. The vulnerability exists at the core of how the plugin manages user permissions and access control mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended security restrictions. Such flaws typically arise when developers fail to implement proper access validation checks at critical endpoints or when authentication states are not adequately verified before executing sensitive operations. The issue manifests as a failure to enforce proper authorization boundaries, allowing attackers to perform actions that require elevated privileges or specific user roles.
This vulnerability operates at the intersection of several security principles and can be categorized under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within software systems. The flaw enables attackers to exploit the plugin's functionality without proper authentication, potentially allowing them to manipulate or access restricted content. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as the vulnerability may enable more severe consequences including data manipulation, content injection, or even complete system compromise if the plugin's architecture permits further escalation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform unauthorized operations such as uploading malicious files, modifying existing gallery configurations, or accessing protected media assets. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it can be targeted by threat actors with varying skill levels.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-24697 significantly affects WordPress installations using the affected Realwebcare Image Gallery plugin, potentially exposing sensitive data and system integrity. Organizations running vulnerable versions face risks of unauthorized content modification, data leakage, and potential compromise of their entire WordPress environment. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the plugin's access control implementation that was not adequately addressed through updates. Security teams must consider the broader implications for their WordPress infrastructure, particularly in environments where the plugin is widely deployed. The attack surface expands when considering that WordPress plugins often have extensive access to system resources and user data, making unauthorized access through such vulnerabilities particularly damaging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-24697 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw, while also implementing additional security measures. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their WordPress installations to identify all instances of the affected plugin and ensure proper access controls are enforced. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block exploitation attempts, while monitoring for unauthorized access patterns should be implemented. Security hardening practices including role-based access control enforcement, regular security audits, and proper configuration management are essential. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and unauthorized access, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures. System administrators should also consider implementing automated patch management solutions to ensure timely remediation of similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure.