CVE-2025-68043: LottieFiles Authorization Bypass Flaw

CVE-2025-68043 Overview

CVE-2025-68043 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] affecting the LottieFiles plugin for WordPress. The flaw allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels in versions up to and including 3.0.0. The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks on plugin functionality, enabling unauthenticated network-based exploitation without user interaction. Attackers can abuse the broken access control to perform actions normally restricted to authorized users, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected WordPress sites.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit broken access control in the LottieFiles plugin to perform unauthorized actions on WordPress installations running version 3.0.0 or earlier.

Affected Products

LottieFiles WordPress Plugin versions through 3.0.0
WordPress sites with the LottieFiles plugin installed and activated
All deployments of LottieFiles plugin prior to the patched release

Discovery Timeline

2026-02-20 - CVE CVE-2025-68043 published to NVD
2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-68043

Vulnerability Analysis

The LottieFiles plugin fails to enforce proper authorization checks on one or more sensitive operations. This Missing Authorization weakness [CWE-862] occurs when application code performs an action without verifying that the requesting user has appropriate permissions. Attackers can send crafted HTTP requests to the plugin's endpoints without authenticating or possessing the expected role.

The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) reports a score of 1.311% with a percentile of 79.99, indicating measurable likelihood of exploitation activity relative to other published CVEs. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without user interaction, broadening the population of viable attackers.

Review the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of capability or nonce verification before executing privileged plugin operations. WordPress plugins typically must call functions such as current_user_can() or validate nonces with check_ajax_referer() before performing state-changing actions. The LottieFiles plugin omitted or improperly implemented these checks, leaving protected functionality exposed.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based with low complexity and requires no privileges or user interaction. An attacker issues HTTP requests directly to the vulnerable plugin endpoints on a target WordPress site. Because authorization is missing, the server processes the request as if it originated from an authorized actor. No verified public proof-of-concept exploit code is currently published; the vulnerability is described in prose in the referenced advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-68043

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected HTTP POST or GET requests to LottieFiles plugin endpoints from unauthenticated sources
Unusual modifications to WordPress posts, options, or media referencing Lottie animations
New or modified plugin-related entries in wp_options or custom post types without corresponding admin login events
Requests to admin-ajax.php or REST API routes registered by the LottieFiles plugin from external IP addresses without valid session cookies

Detection Strategies

Inspect WordPress access logs for requests to LottieFiles plugin paths lacking authentication cookies or X-WP-Nonce headers
Correlate plugin endpoint activity with administrative user session events to identify anonymous access
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with virtual patching rules targeting broken access control in the LottieFiles plugin

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor for spikes in traffic to plugin-specific REST routes and AJAX actions
Audit recent changes to WordPress content and plugin settings against the administrator action history
Enable file integrity monitoring across the wp-content/plugins/lottiefiles/ directory and core WordPress configuration files

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-68043

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress sites running the LottieFiles plugin version 3.0.0 or earlier
Update the LottieFiles plugin to a version later than 3.0.0 once a fixed release is available from the vendor
Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and REST API endpoints behind a WAF or access control layer
Review WordPress audit logs for evidence of unauthorized actions performed before patching

Patch Information

The vulnerability affects LottieFiles plugin versions through 3.0.0. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest patched version information and apply updates through the WordPress plugin manager.

Workarounds

Deactivate and remove the LottieFiles plugin until a patched version is installed if Lottie animation functionality is not business-critical
Apply WAF rules that block unauthenticated requests to LottieFiles plugin endpoints
Restrict plugin endpoint access by IP allowlisting at the web server or reverse proxy layer
Enforce least-privilege user roles and disable unused REST API routes via WordPress hardening plugins

bash

# Example: disable LottieFiles plugin via WP-CLI until patched
wp plugin deactivate lottiefiles
wp plugin delete lottiefiles