CVE-2025-46244: Advanced Linked Variations Auth Bypass

CVE-2025-46244 Overview

CVE-2025-46244 is a critical Missing Authorization vulnerability affecting the Advanced Linked Variations for WooCommerce plugin developed by Dotstore (Multidots). This Broken Access Control vulnerability allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive functionality within WordPress e-commerce installations. The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks (CWE-862), which can be exploited remotely without authentication.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected WordPress WooCommerce installations. No user interaction is required for exploitation.

Affected Products

• Multidots Advanced Linked Variations for WooCommerce versions up to and including 1.0.3
• WordPress installations running the vulnerable linked-variation plugin
• WooCommerce stores utilizing the Advanced Linked Variations functionality

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-04-22 - CVE-2025-46244 published to NVD
• 2025-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-46244

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a critical Broken Access Control flaw classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization). The Advanced Linked Variations for WooCommerce plugin fails to properly implement authorization checks on sensitive functionality, allowing unauthenticated users to access administrative or privileged operations.

The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network with low attack complexity. No privileges or user interaction are required for successful exploitation, making this a highly dangerous security flaw. A successful attack could result in complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected WordPress installation.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the absence of proper authorization checks within the plugin's code. When processing requests to sensitive endpoints or functions, the plugin does not verify whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions to perform the requested action. This is a common pattern in WordPress plugin development where developers may rely solely on nonce checks or neglect capability checks entirely, leaving administrative functions accessible to unauthenticated visitors.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can directly send crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable WordPress installation to exploit the missing authorization controls. The attack flow typically involves:

1. Attacker identifies a WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin version
2. Attacker sends unauthenticated requests to plugin endpoints that should require administrative privileges
3. Due to missing authorization checks, the requests are processed without verifying user capabilities
4. Attacker gains unauthorized access to privileged functionality

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending crafted requests to WordPress AJAX handlers or plugin-specific endpoints that lack proper current_user_can() capability checks. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-46244

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with plugin-specific action parameters from unauthenticated sources
• Unexpected modifications to WooCommerce product variations or linked variation settings
• Log entries showing administrative actions performed without corresponding authenticated user sessions
• Access to plugin-specific endpoints from external IP addresses without proper authentication headers

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests to admin-ajax.php containing the linked-variation plugin action parameters from unauthenticated sessions
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting known vulnerable endpoints
• Deploy file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to WooCommerce product data or plugin configurations
• Review WordPress audit logs for administrative actions performed without corresponding user authentication events

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed access logging on the WordPress installation and monitor for anomalous request patterns
• Configure alerts for modifications to WooCommerce product variations or settings occurring outside normal administrative workflows
• Implement rate limiting on AJAX endpoints to mitigate automated exploitation attempts
• Monitor for unexpected outbound connections that may indicate post-exploitation activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-46244

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Advanced Linked Variations for WooCommerce to a patched version immediately if available from the vendor
• If no patch is available, deactivate and remove the linked-variation plugin until a security update is released
• Audit WooCommerce product data and plugin settings for unauthorized modifications
• Review WordPress access logs for signs of exploitation attempts
• Implement additional access controls at the web server or WAF level to restrict access to administrative endpoints

Patch Information

Organizations should check the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest patch status and remediation guidance from the vendor. Until an official patch is released, the plugin should be considered unsafe for production use.

Workarounds

• Deactivate the Advanced Linked Variations for WooCommerce plugin until a patched version is available
• Implement IP-based access restrictions to WordPress administrative endpoints at the web server or firewall level
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to block unauthenticated requests to vulnerable plugin endpoints
• Consider using alternative WooCommerce variation management solutions that are not affected by this vulnerability

# Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate linked-variation

# Verify plugin is deactivated
wp plugin list --status=inactive | grep linked-variation

# Block access to admin-ajax.php from external IPs (Apache example)
# Add to .htaccess in WordPress root
# <Files admin-ajax.php>
#   Order Deny,Allow
#   Deny from all
#   Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
# </Files>