CVE-2025-24757: AndonDesign uDesign Authorization Bypass

CVE-2025-24757 Overview

CVE-2025-24757 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting the AndonDesign uDesign WordPress theme. The flaw exists in all versions of uDesign up to and including 4.11.2. An unauthenticated remote attacker can reach functionality that should require authorization, resulting in limited disclosure of information from the affected site.

The vulnerability is network-exploitable, requires no privileges, and needs no user interaction. Confidentiality impact is rated low, while integrity and availability are unaffected. WordPress sites using the uDesign theme should update to a fixed release once available from AndonDesign.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated network attackers can invoke uDesign theme functionality that lacks proper authorization checks, exposing limited confidential data.

Affected Products

• AndonDesign uDesign WordPress theme versions up to and including 4.11.2
• WordPress sites running the uDesign theme with default configuration
• Any deployment that exposes uDesign theme endpoints to unauthenticated network traffic

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-04 - CVE-2025-24757 published to the National Vulnerability Database
• 2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24757

Vulnerability Analysis

The uDesign theme exposes one or more actions that fail to verify the requester's authorization state. Missing Authorization [CWE-862] means the application performs a sensitive operation without first confirming that the caller has permission to invoke it. In WordPress themes and plugins, this typically involves AJAX handlers, REST endpoints, or admin-post actions that omit current_user_can() or capability checks.

An unauthenticated attacker can send crafted HTTP requests directly to the vulnerable handler. Because the handler executes without permission verification, it returns data or performs actions intended for authenticated roles. The disclosed information is limited in scope, consistent with the low confidentiality rating and no impact on integrity or availability.

The EPSS score is approximately 0.22%, indicating a low predicted probability of exploitation in the near term. No public exploit code is currently associated with this CVE.

Root Cause

The root cause is a missing capability or nonce-based authorization check on one or more theme endpoints. The vulnerable code path executes its business logic before validating that the caller is authenticated and holds the required WordPress capability, such as manage_options or edit_posts.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network by issuing HTTP requests directly to a WordPress site running a vulnerable uDesign theme. The attacker does not need valid credentials or any interaction from a legitimate user. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for endpoint-specific technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24757

Indicators of Compromise

• Unauthenticated HTTP POST or GET requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php referencing uDesign theme actions
• Requests to theme-specific REST routes originating from IP addresses without prior authentication cookies
• Unexpected responses containing site configuration or content data returned to anonymous requesters

Detection Strategies

• Review web server access logs for anonymous requests targeting admin-ajax.php with action parameters tied to the uDesign theme
• Correlate requests to theme endpoints with the absence of wordpress_logged_in_* cookies to identify unauthenticated calls
• Deploy a WordPress-aware web application firewall rule to flag or block access to sensitive theme actions from unauthenticated sessions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose HTTP access logging on the WordPress front end and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform
• Alert on spikes in requests to theme AJAX or REST endpoints, especially from single source IPs or automated user agents
• Monitor outbound responses for unusual payload sizes that may indicate data disclosure through the vulnerable handler

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24757

Immediate Actions Required

• Inventory all WordPress sites and identify those running the AndonDesign uDesign theme at version 4.11.2 or earlier
• Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and theme REST routes from untrusted networks where feasible
• Deploy WAF rules that block unauthenticated requests to the vulnerable uDesign theme actions until a patched release is installed

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the affected range is uDesign versions up to and including 4.11.2. Site administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the AndonDesign vendor channels for the fixed version and upgrade guidance.

Workarounds

• Apply virtual patching through a web application firewall to block requests to the vulnerable theme endpoints
• Temporarily switch to a maintained theme if a fixed uDesign release is not yet available
• Enforce IP allowlisting on wp-admin and administrative AJAX routes to reduce the anonymous attack surface

# Configuration example: block anonymous requests to admin-ajax.php via nginx
location = /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php {
    if ($http_cookie !~* "wordpress_logged_in_") {
        return 403;
    }
    include fastcgi_params;
    fastcgi_pass php_upstream;
}