CVE-2026-81652 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE • 09/20/2026
The Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and WordPress plugin before 4.5.0 does not verify that the requesting user is entitled to a given image record before returning it, allowing users with the Contributor role and above to read the stored metadata of any image on the site, including images in galleries belonging to other users. The disclosed data includes the image's stored EXIF subset, covering camera make and model and capture timestamp, along with internal checksums and identifiers that the Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and WordPress plugin before 4.5.0's own capability-gated read path reserves to administrators.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2026
The vulnerability identified in versions of the Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and WordPress plugin prior to version 4.5.0 represents a critical failure in access control logic within the application’s image retrieval mechanisms. This flaw stems from an insufficient verification process where the software fails to validate whether the user making a request possesses the necessary permissions for the specific resource being accessed. In secure web applications, every data retrieval operation must be accompanied by rigorous authorization checks that confirm the requester's identity and their associated privileges relative to the target object. The absence of this check allows any authenticated user with at least Contributor-level access to bypass intended restrictions and retrieve sensitive metadata from images stored on the server. This type of vulnerability is classically categorized under CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control, specifically highlighting a scenario where authorization checks are either missing or incorrectly implemented for specific resources.
The operational impact of this flaw extends beyond simple unauthorized viewing, as it exposes detailed technical metadata associated with every image hosted on the WordPress site. The disclosed data includes EXIF information such as camera make and model, capture timestamps, and other photographic details that can reveal sensitive contextual information about when and where photos were taken. More critically, the vulnerability allows lower-privileged users to access internal checksums and unique identifiers that are typically reserved for administrators through capability-gated read paths. These internal identifiers serve as keys or references within the plugin’s database structure, potentially facilitating further attacks such as directory traversal, file inclusion, or targeted exploitation of other system components if these values can be correlated with known vulnerabilities in associated software stacks. The exposure of this data undermines the confidentiality guarantees expected by site administrators and content creators who rely on the platform to manage private media assets securely.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1083, which involves File and Directory Discovery, as well as aspects of T1567, Data Staged for Exfiltration, since the attacker gathers structured data that could be used to map out the site’s architecture. The ability to read metadata from images belonging to other users also touches upon privacy violations and potential social engineering vectors where detailed personal information derived from EXIF data is exploited. For organizations using this plugin, the risk includes not only the leakage of proprietary or private imagery details but also the exposure of internal system identifiers that could aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks against the WordPress installation itself.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching to version 4.5.0 or later where these access control checks have been properly implemented. Until an update is applied, administrators should consider restricting user roles on affected sites to minimize the attack surface for lower-privileged accounts. Additionally, implementing Web Application Firewall rules that monitor for anomalous requests targeting image metadata endpoints can provide a layer of defense in depth. It is also advisable to audit existing media libraries and remove any sensitive EXIF data from images before uploading them if they contain personally identifiable information or confidential operational details. Regular security audits focusing on authorization logic across all plugin functions are essential to prevent similar access control bypasses in the future, ensuring that every resource request is validated against the user’s current role and permissions set by the system administrator.