CVE-2025-10303 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the owthub Library Management System plugin for WordPress, present in all versions up to and including 3.1. The vulnerability stems from the owt7_library_management_ajax_handler() function lacking proper capability checks, which means that authenticated users with minimal privileges (Subscriber role or higher) can invoke this AJAX handler to modify plugin settings and features without appropriate authorization. This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate plugin configurations, potentially altering how the library management system operates, which could lead to unauthorized changes in data presentation, feature enablement, or other operational parameters. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting that it requires low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and can be exploited remotely (AV:N). The impact is limited to integrity as confidentiality and availability are not affected. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability is significant because WordPress is widely used, and plugins often have broad access within the CMS environment. Attackers exploiting this flaw could leverage the unauthorized changes to facilitate further attacks or disrupt library management operations.

For European organizations, particularly educational institutions, public libraries, and cultural heritage organizations that rely on WordPress with the owthub Library Management System plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized configuration changes. Such changes could degrade service quality, misrepresent library data, or enable further exploitation by attackers who gain initial low-level access. Although the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or cause denial of service, unauthorized integrity modifications could undermine trust in the system and lead to operational disruptions. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe and the importance of library systems in public and academic sectors, the impact could be significant if exploited at scale. Additionally, unauthorized changes could be a stepping stone for privilege escalation or injection of malicious content, increasing the risk profile. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but should not lead to complacency.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately audit user roles and permissions on WordPress sites using the owthub plugin, ensuring that Subscriber-level users are strictly limited and monitored. 2) Restrict plugin access to trusted users only and consider temporarily disabling the plugin if feasible until a patch is released. 3) Monitor logs for unusual AJAX requests targeting the owt7_library_management_ajax_handler() function to detect potential exploitation attempts. 4) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to block unauthorized AJAX calls or suspicious activity related to the plugin. 5) Engage with the plugin vendor or community to obtain or develop patches and apply them promptly once available. 6) Conduct regular security assessments of WordPress environments, focusing on plugin vulnerabilities and privilege management. 7) Educate site administrators about the risks of low-privilege user accounts and enforce strong access control policies. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific vulnerable function and the role-based access context.