CVE-2025-12377 identifies a missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in the Envira Photo Gallery plugin for WordPress, developed by smub. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.12.0 due to the absence of proper capability checks on multiple plugin functions. This flaw allows authenticated users with Author-level privileges or higher to bypass intended access controls and perform unauthorized modifications, specifically the removal of images from arbitrary galleries. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network, given the attacker has at least Author-level access to the WordPress site. The impact is limited to integrity, as attackers can alter gallery content but cannot affect confidentiality or availability. The vulnerability was partially patched in version 1.12.0, indicating some remediation effort, but no complete fix or patch links are currently available. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, suggesting limited active exploitation. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.3 reflects a medium severity with low attack complexity and no privileges beyond Author required. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for WordPress sites that rely on the Envira Photo Gallery plugin and have multiple users with elevated privileges. Attackers exploiting this flaw could manipulate gallery content, potentially undermining trust or causing reputational damage. The vulnerability highlights the importance of enforcing strict authorization checks within WordPress plugins to prevent privilege escalation and unauthorized data modifications.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-12377 primarily concerns the integrity of web content managed via WordPress sites using the Envira Photo Gallery plugin. Unauthorized removal of images could disrupt marketing, communications, or e-commerce activities that rely on visual content, potentially damaging brand reputation and user trust. Organizations with collaborative content management environments where multiple users have Author-level or higher access are at increased risk. Although the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability, the ability to alter gallery content without authorization could facilitate misinformation or defacement campaigns. This risk is heightened for sectors such as media, education, cultural institutions, and online retailers prevalent in Europe. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as partial patches suggest incomplete remediation. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to targeted attacks exploiting weak access controls, particularly in countries with high WordPress usage and active digital content ecosystems.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately audit all WordPress sites for the presence of the Envira Photo Gallery plugin and identify versions up to 1.12.0. 2) Restrict Author-level and higher privileges to trusted users only, minimizing the number of accounts capable of exploiting this vulnerability. 3) Monitor and log changes to gallery content to detect unauthorized modifications promptly. 4) Apply the latest plugin updates as soon as a complete patch addressing this vulnerability is released by the vendor. 5) Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the plugin with alternative gallery solutions that enforce strict authorization controls until a full fix is available. 6) Educate site administrators and content managers about the risks of privilege misuse and the importance of least privilege principles. 7) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect anomalous requests targeting gallery modification endpoints. 8) Regularly review user roles and permissions within WordPress to ensure alignment with operational needs and security best practices.