CVE-2025-24588 Overview
CVE-2025-24588 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting the Patreon WordPress plugin (patreon-connect) in versions up to and including 1.9.1. The flaw stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels, allowing unauthenticated attackers to reach functionality that should require authorization. Attackers can exploit the issue over the network without user interaction or prior privileges. Successful exploitation can result in limited integrity and availability impact on affected WordPress sites running the plugin.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network-based attackers can bypass access controls in the Patreon WordPress plugin, altering plugin state or resources without authorization on sites running versions up to 1.9.1.
Affected Products
- Patreon WordPress plugin (patreon-connect)
- All versions from n/a through <= 1.9.1
- WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-24 - CVE CVE-2025-24588 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24588
Vulnerability Analysis
The Patreon WordPress plugin exposes functionality without properly verifying whether the calling user has the required authorization. The plugin fails to enforce capability or role checks on one or more request handlers, resulting in a Broken Access Control condition classified under [CWE-862] Missing Authorization. Because the attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction, any remote actor able to reach the WordPress site can invoke the affected endpoints. The impact is limited to partial integrity and availability effects, with no direct confidentiality impact reported.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of authorization checks in code paths that modify or interact with plugin resources. WordPress plugins typically enforce access control using current_user_can() capability checks or nonce verification via check_admin_referer() and wp_verify_nonce(). The Patreon plugin's affected handlers omit or improperly configure these checks, treating requests as trusted regardless of the caller's identity.
Attack Vector
An unauthenticated remote attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoints on a WordPress site running patreon-connect <= 1.9.1. Because no authorization gate is enforced, the request executes the underlying action. Exploitation does not require valid credentials, tokens, or interaction from a legitimate user. See the PatchStack WordPress Vulnerability Report for technical details on the affected endpoint.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24588
Indicators of Compromise
- Unauthenticated HTTP POST or GET requests to Patreon plugin endpoints under /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or /wp-json/ routes registered by patreon-connect.
- Modifications to plugin settings or resources with no corresponding administrator session in access logs.
- Requests to plugin action handlers lacking a valid _wpnonce parameter or authenticated session cookie.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory WordPress installations and identify sites running patreon-connect version 1.9.1 or earlier.
- Correlate web server access logs with WordPress authentication logs to identify plugin actions invoked without a matching authenticated session.
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that alert on unauthenticated access to plugin AJAX or REST endpoints associated with patreon-connect.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on the WordPress site to record all AJAX and REST API calls, including client IP, user context, and action parameter.
- Monitor for anomalous request bursts targeting admin-ajax.php with action values referencing Patreon plugin handlers.
- Alert on unexpected changes to plugin configuration, database options prefixed with patreon_, or membership-related tables.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24588
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites running the patreon-connect plugin at version <= 1.9.1 and prioritize them for remediation.
- Update the Patreon WordPress plugin to a patched release beyond 1.9.1 as soon as the vendor publishes a fix.
- Restrict network access to /wp-admin/ and REST API routes where feasible, using IP allowlists or authentication proxies.
Patch Information
Refer to the PatchStack WordPress Vulnerability Report for vendor patch status and upgrade guidance. Administrators should upgrade to a fixed release once available and verify the installed version through the WordPress Plugins dashboard.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the patreon-connect plugin until a patched version is available if the functionality is not critical.
- Deploy WAF rules to block unauthenticated requests targeting the vulnerable plugin's AJAX and REST endpoints.
- Enforce authentication at the reverse proxy or CDN layer for administrative and plugin-registered endpoints.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
