The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-12015 affects the WordPress plugin 'Convert WebP & AVIF | Quicq,' which is designed to optimize images and improve Google PageSpeed scores. The core issue is a missing authorization check (CWE-862) on the AJAX endpoint 'wp_ajax_wpqai_disconnect_quicq_afosto.' This endpoint allows users to disconnect the Afosto integration, a service presumably used for image optimization or e-commerce functionality. Because the plugin fails to verify whether the requesting user has the appropriate capabilities, any authenticated user with Subscriber-level access or higher can invoke this endpoint and disconnect Afosto without proper authorization. This flaw does not expose confidential data nor cause denial of service but permits unauthorized modification of plugin state, impacting data integrity. The vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.0.0. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges (low), no user interaction, and impact limited to integrity. No patches or exploits are currently documented, but the risk exists for insider threats or compromised low-privilege accounts. The vulnerability was published on November 13, 2025, and assigned by Wordfence. The absence of a patch link suggests that remediation may still be pending or requires manual intervention.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the integrity of their WordPress-based web infrastructure. Organizations using the affected plugin risk unauthorized disconnection of the Afosto service, which could disrupt image optimization workflows, degrade website performance, and negatively impact SEO rankings due to slower page load times. While the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or cause service outages, unauthorized changes could lead to operational inefficiencies and potential reputational damage if website performance degrades. Attackers with Subscriber-level access could be malicious insiders or external actors who have compromised low-privilege accounts, making this a vector for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the CMS environment. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe, especially among SMEs and e-commerce sites, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of sectors including retail, media, and services. The impact is more pronounced in organizations relying heavily on Afosto integrations for their digital commerce or content delivery pipelines.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first verify if they are using the 'Convert WebP & AVIF | Quicq' plugin up to version 2.0.0 and assess the presence of the vulnerable AJAX endpoint. Immediate steps include restricting Subscriber-level user capabilities to prevent unauthorized access or disabling the plugin if Afosto integration is not critical. Administrators should implement custom capability checks on the 'wp_ajax_wpqai_disconnect_quicq_afosto' endpoint to ensure only authorized roles (e.g., Administrator or Editor) can invoke it. Monitoring WordPress logs for suspicious AJAX calls related to Afosto disconnections can help detect exploitation attempts. Applying principle of least privilege to WordPress user roles and enforcing strong authentication mechanisms (e.g., MFA) reduces the risk of account compromise. Until an official patch is released, consider using Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to block unauthorized AJAX requests targeting this endpoint. Regularly update the plugin once a security fix is available and maintain an inventory of all WordPress plugins to quickly identify and respond to similar vulnerabilities.