CVE-2025-15466 Overview
The Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access and modification of data due to missing capability checks on multiple AJAX actions in all versions up to, and including, 3.6.9. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access and above to view, create, modify, clone, delete, and reassign ownership of galleries created by other users, including administrators.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with low-level privileges (Contributor and above) can gain unauthorized control over gallery management, potentially compromising website content and administrative data through broken access control.
Affected Products
- Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 3.6.9
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-20 - CVE CVE-2025-15466 published to NVD
- 2026-01-20 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-15466
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-862 (Missing Authorization). The plugin fails to implement proper capability checks on multiple AJAX actions that handle gallery management operations. Without these authorization controls, any authenticated user with at least Contributor-level privileges can interact with AJAX endpoints designed exclusively for administrators or gallery owners.
The attack surface is network-accessible and requires low attack complexity. An attacker needs only valid credentials with Contributor-level access to exploit this vulnerability. The impact includes unauthorized read access to gallery data (confidentiality) and the ability to modify, clone, delete, or reassign ownership of galleries (integrity).
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper capability checks within the AJAX action handlers. WordPress plugins typically use functions like current_user_can() to verify that the requesting user has appropriate permissions before processing sensitive operations. The Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid plugin failed to implement these authorization checks on critical gallery management functions, allowing any authenticated user to bypass intended access controls.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, requiring the attacker to authenticate to the WordPress site with at least Contributor-level privileges. Once authenticated, the attacker can send crafted AJAX requests directly to the vulnerable endpoints. These requests bypass the normal access control mechanisms because the plugin does not verify whether the requesting user has permission to perform the requested action.
An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to:
- View galleries created by other users, including private or draft galleries
- Create new galleries under other users' accounts
- Modify existing gallery settings and content
- Clone galleries belonging to administrators
- Delete galleries owned by other users
- Reassign gallery ownership to different accounts
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-15466
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected AJAX requests to gallery management endpoints from low-privilege user accounts
- Audit logs showing gallery modifications by users who should not have access
- Unusual patterns of gallery creation, deletion, or ownership changes
- Contributor-level users accessing administrator-only gallery functions
Detection Strategies
- Monitor WordPress AJAX request logs for suspicious activity targeting the Final Tiles Grid plugin
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect anomalous gallery management requests
- Review user activity logs for Contributor-level accounts performing administrative actions
- Audit gallery ownership changes and modifications for unauthorized activity
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for all AJAX requests to WordPress plugins
- Configure alerts for gallery modifications by non-administrator users
- Regularly audit user permissions and gallery ownership assignments
- Monitor for bulk gallery operations that may indicate automated exploitation
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-15466
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid plugin to a version newer than 3.6.9 immediately
- Review audit logs for any signs of unauthorized gallery access or modifications
- Audit all galleries for unexpected ownership changes or content modifications
- Consider temporarily restricting Contributor-level user permissions until the update is applied
Patch Information
The vulnerability has been addressed in updates to the plugin. The WordPress Changeset Update contains the fix that implements proper capability checks on the affected AJAX actions. Additional technical details about this vulnerability are available in the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.
Workarounds
- Temporarily deactivate the Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid plugin until an update can be applied
- Restrict Contributor-level user access until the vulnerability is patched
- Implement additional access controls at the web server or WAF level to block unauthorized AJAX requests
- Monitor and audit all gallery-related activities for suspicious behavior
# Verify plugin version and update status
wp plugin list --name=final-tiles-grid-gallery-tiled-image-gallery --fields=name,version,update_available
# Update to the latest patched version
wp plugin update final-tiles-grid-gallery-tiled-image-gallery
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
