CVE-2025-49509: Audio Editor & Recorder Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2025-49509 Overview

CVE-2025-49509 is a missing authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the Roland Beaussant Audio Editor & Recorder WordPress plugin. The flaw affects audio-editor-recorder versions up to and including 2.2.1. The plugin fails to enforce proper access control checks, allowing unauthenticated network attackers to reach functionality intended for authorized users.

The issue stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels within the plugin. Successful exploitation results in limited integrity impact without affecting confidentiality or availability. The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it reachable directly over the network.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can invoke plugin actions that should require authorization, modifying data on affected WordPress sites running Audio Editor & Recorder <= 2.2.1.

Affected Products

Roland Beaussant Audio Editor & Recorder plugin for WordPress
Versions from n/a through 2.2.1 (inclusive)
WordPress sites with the audio-editor-recorder plugin installed and activated

Discovery Timeline

2025-06-10 - CVE-2025-49509 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49509

Vulnerability Analysis

The Audio Editor & Recorder plugin exposes one or more actions that lack proper authorization enforcement. When a request reaches the affected endpoint, the plugin does not verify whether the caller holds the capability required to perform the action. This constitutes broken access control classified under [CWE-862] Missing Authorization.

The vulnerability is reachable over the network without authentication or user interaction. The impact is limited to integrity, meaning attackers can alter data or state but cannot directly read protected content or disrupt service through this flaw alone. The EPSS score of 0.278% places exploitation probability in the lower percentile range, though public disclosure via Patchstack raises the practical risk for exposed sites.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of capability checks such as current_user_can() and nonce verification via check_ajax_referer() on plugin action handlers. WordPress plugins must validate both the identity of the requester and the authorization to perform the action. The Audio Editor & Recorder plugin omits these checks on affected handlers, treating requests from unauthenticated visitors identically to those from authorized users.

Attack Vector

An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint on a WordPress site running audio-editor-recorder <= 2.2.1. No login session, cookies, or CSRF token are required. The plugin processes the request and performs the privileged action. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for endpoint-specific details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49509

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected POST or GET requests to admin-ajax.php with action parameters referencing the audio-editor-recorder plugin from unauthenticated sources.
Requests to plugin REST routes under /wp-json/ targeting audio-editor-recorder endpoints without valid authentication headers.
Modifications to plugin-managed data or uploaded audio files with no corresponding administrator login in the WordPress audit trail.

Detection Strategies

Inventory WordPress installations and identify sites running audio-editor-recorder at version 2.2.1 or below.
Review web server access logs for anonymous requests hitting plugin AJAX or REST endpoints.
Correlate plugin action requests with authenticated session activity to surface unauthorized invocations.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress audit logging to record plugin action invocations and configuration changes.
Alert on spikes in traffic to admin-ajax.php with plugin-specific action values from external IPs.
Monitor file system changes in the plugin's upload and data directories for unauthorized writes.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49509

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Audio Editor & Recorder plugin to a version later than 2.2.1 as soon as a patched release is available from the vendor.
If no patched version exists, deactivate and remove the audio-editor-recorder plugin from affected WordPress sites.
Review WordPress logs and plugin-managed data for signs of unauthorized modification since the plugin was installed.

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.2.1. Consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the current fixed version and vendor advisory status.

Workarounds

Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin REST routes using a web application firewall (WAF) rule that blocks unauthenticated requests referencing audio-editor-recorder actions.
Limit plugin endpoint access to trusted IP ranges at the reverse proxy or WAF layer until a patch is applied.
Disable the plugin on production sites if audio editing functionality is not actively required.

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking unauthenticated plugin action calls
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@rx /wp-admin/admin-ajax\.php" \
  "chain,phase:2,deny,status:403,id:1004951,\
  msg:'Block unauthenticated audio-editor-recorder actions (CVE-2025-49509)'"
  SecRule ARGS:action "@rx (?i)audio[_-]editor[_-]recorder" \
    "chain"
    SecRule &REQUEST_COOKIES:wordpress_logged_in "@eq 0"