CVE-2025-24734 Overview
CVE-2025-24734 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the CodeSolz Better Find and Replace WordPress plugin (real-time-auto-find-and-replace). The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.6.7. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can exploit the missing authorization check to escalate privileges within a WordPress installation. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8, reflecting network-based exploitation with low complexity and high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Critical Impact
An authenticated low-privileged user can escalate to administrator-level access on affected WordPress sites running Better Find and Replace 1.6.7 or earlier.
Affected Products
- CodeSolz Better Find and Replace (real-time-auto-find-and-replace) WordPress plugin
- All versions from n/a through 1.6.7
- WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin with at least one low-privileged user account
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-27 - CVE-2025-24734 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24734
Vulnerability Analysis
The Better Find and Replace plugin exposes functionality without enforcing capability checks. WordPress plugins must verify user capabilities using functions such as current_user_can() before performing privileged actions. This plugin omits that verification on one or more sensitive endpoints. As a result, any authenticated user, including subscriber-level accounts, can invoke functionality intended for administrators. Because the plugin manipulates site content through find-and-replace operations, attackers can leverage the missing check to alter records that grant elevated privileges or inject administrative payloads.
The Patchstack advisory categorizes the outcome as privilege escalation rather than simple information disclosure, indicating the affected endpoint modifies state in a way that yields administrative control.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing authorization check [CWE-862] on a plugin action handler. The handler accepts requests from any authenticated session without confirming the caller holds the required manage_options or equivalent capability. WordPress relies on plugins to enforce these checks because the core platform cannot infer the intended privilege level of a plugin action.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires low privileges. An attacker first obtains any authenticated WordPress account, such as a subscriber account created through open registration. The attacker then sends a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. The plugin processes the request without verifying capabilities and applies attacker-controlled changes. These changes can modify user roles or replace content in ways that grant the attacker administrative control over the site.
No verified public exploit code is available at this time. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24734
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected changes to WordPress user roles, particularly subscriber or contributor accounts promoted to administrator.
- New administrator accounts created shortly after authenticated requests to plugin endpoints under /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or /wp-admin/admin-post.php.
- Unexplained modifications to posts, options, or user metadata performed by low-privileged accounts.
- HTTP POST requests to Better Find and Replace action handlers from accounts that should not have plugin access.
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress audit logs for update_user_meta or update_option calls originating from non-administrator sessions.
- Compare the wp_usermeta table against a known-good baseline to identify capability changes assigned outside of administrative workflows.
- Inspect web server access logs for repeated requests to plugin AJAX actions tied to find-and-replace functionality.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress activity logging plugin and forward events to a centralized log platform for correlation.
- Alert on role changes, plugin setting modifications, and new administrator account creation events.
- Monitor outbound requests from the WordPress host for signs of post-exploitation tooling or backdoor installation.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24734
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Better Find and Replace to a version newer than 1.6.7 once the vendor releases a patched build.
- Disable and remove the plugin if a patched version is not yet available and the functionality is not required.
- Audit all WordPress user accounts and revoke unexpected administrator privileges.
- Rotate credentials for any account that may have been used to exploit the vulnerability.
Patch Information
Review the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest fixed version information. Apply the vendor update through the WordPress plugin dashboard once available, and confirm the installed version is greater than 1.6.7.
Workarounds
- Restrict WordPress registration to trusted users and disable open user signup under Settings > General.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that blocks requests to Better Find and Replace AJAX actions from non-administrator sessions.
- Apply the principle of least privilege by removing inactive low-privileged accounts that could be abused for exploitation.
# Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI until a patch is applied
wp plugin deactivate real-time-auto-find-and-replace
wp plugin status real-time-auto-find-and-replace
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
