CVE-2025-14045 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) found in the 'URL Media Uploader' WordPress plugin developed by apprhyme. The vulnerability exists because the function url_media_uploader_url_upload_ajax_handler() does not perform a capability check before processing file uploads. This flaw allows any authenticated user with Contributor-level permissions or higher to upload media files without proper authorization validation. The plugin versions up to and including 1.0.1 are affected. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring only privileges equivalent to a Contributor (PR:L) and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects integrity (I:L) but not confidentiality or availability. Although the uploaded files are limited to safe media types, the ability to upload files without proper authorization can be abused to manipulate site content or potentially escalate privileges if combined with other vulnerabilities. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no known exploits are currently in the wild. The vulnerability was published on December 12, 2025, with a CVSS v3.1 score of 4.3, indicating medium severity. The lack of authorization checks in a common WordPress plugin highlights a significant risk for websites relying on this plugin for media management.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the integrity of web content managed via WordPress sites using the URL Media Uploader plugin. Unauthorized file uploads by users with Contributor-level access could lead to unauthorized content insertion or modification, potentially damaging brand reputation or violating compliance requirements related to content integrity. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or availability, it could be leveraged as part of a multi-stage attack to escalate privileges or implant malicious content indirectly. Organizations with public-facing websites, especially those in sectors like media, e-commerce, education, and government, where WordPress is widely used, may face increased risk. The absence of patches means organizations must rely on compensating controls until an official fix is released. The impact is heightened in environments where Contributor roles are assigned liberally or where user access management is weak.

1. Immediately audit and restrict Contributor-level user permissions to only trusted individuals, minimizing the number of users who can exploit this vulnerability. 2. Implement strict file type validation and scanning on uploaded media files to detect and block any potentially harmful content, even if the plugin restricts uploads to safe media types. 3. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) to monitor and block suspicious upload requests targeting the vulnerable AJAX handler endpoint. 4. Isolate upload directories with restrictive permissions and consider using separate storage solutions that limit execution capabilities of uploaded files. 5. Monitor logs for unusual upload activity or spikes in file uploads from Contributor accounts. 6. Stay alert for official patches or updates from the plugin vendor and apply them promptly once available. 7. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the URL Media Uploader plugin if feasible until a patch is released. 8. Educate site administrators and content managers about the risks of over-privileging users and enforce the principle of least privilege.