CVE-2025-46232 in Download Alt Text AI Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/22/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in alttextai Download Alt Text AI allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels. This issue affects Download Alt Text AI: from n/a through 1.9.93.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2025
The CVE-2025-46232 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the alttextai Download Alt Text AI plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from unspecified initial release through 1.9.93. This security weakness stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels that permit unauthorized users to exploit functionality intended for privileged access only. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of inadequate access control mechanisms, which are systematically addressed by CWE-285, specifically targeting improper authorization within software applications. The flaw manifests when the plugin fails to properly validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized access to administrative functions or restricted data processing capabilities. When users interact with the plugin's download functionality, the system should verify proper authentication and authorization levels before permitting access to alt text generation or download features. However, the misconfigured access control security levels fail to enforce these validation checks consistently, enabling attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted requests or direct exploitation attempts. This misconfiguration creates a persistent security gap that can be leveraged across multiple attack vectors, particularly when the plugin integrates with content management systems or web applications that rely on proper authorization enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can potentially enable data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and unauthorized modification of content processing workflows. Attackers exploiting this flaw could download alt text content that should be restricted to authorized users only, potentially accessing sensitive metadata or processing results that reveal information about content creators or internal system configurations. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests a systemic issue in the plugin's access control implementation, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on the plugin for content management or accessibility compliance purposes. This flaw directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of data processed through the alt text generation system, creating potential compliance violations for organizations subject to data protection regulations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-46232 should focus on immediate implementation of proper access control validation mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest available version of the Download Alt Text AI plugin once a patched release becomes available, as this represents the most direct solution to address the misconfigured access control security levels. System administrators should conduct thorough access control reviews to identify any other potential authorization gaps within the plugin's functionality, implementing additional validation layers such as role-based access controls and session management verification. The remediation process should also include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and implementing proper logging mechanisms to detect exploitation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls and web application firewalls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.