CVE-2025-14629 is a vulnerability identified in the Alchemist Ajax Upload plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting all versions up to and including 1.1. The root cause is a missing authorization check (CWE-862) in the 'delete_file' function, which fails to verify whether the user has the necessary permissions to delete media files. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to invoke the deletion functionality and remove arbitrary media attachments from the WordPress media library. Since the vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction, it is remotely exploitable over the network with low complexity. The impact is primarily on the integrity of the website's content, as attackers can delete images, videos, or other media files, potentially disrupting website functionality, user experience, or content availability. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability directly, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium), reflecting the ease of exploitation and integrity impact without affecting confidentiality or availability. The vulnerability was reserved in December 2025 and published in January 2026, with no patches currently available, indicating a need for urgent attention from site administrators using this plugin.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized deletion of media content on WordPress sites, which may disrupt business operations, marketing efforts, and customer engagement, especially for companies relying heavily on digital media. Loss of media files can degrade website quality, cause broken links or missing images, and damage brand reputation. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, and government that use WordPress extensively for content management are particularly at risk. While the vulnerability does not compromise sensitive data confidentiality or cause denial of service, the integrity loss can have cascading effects on user trust and operational continuity. Additionally, the ease of exploitation by unauthenticated attackers increases the risk of opportunistic attacks or vandalism. European entities may also face compliance challenges if content integrity is mandated by regulatory frameworks, especially in countries with strict digital service regulations.

1. Monitor official channels and the plugin vendor for security patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them immediately upon release. 2. Until a patch is available, consider disabling or uninstalling the Alchemist Ajax Upload plugin to eliminate the attack surface. 3. Implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block unauthorized requests targeting the delete_file function or suspicious media deletion attempts. 4. Restrict access to WordPress administrative interfaces and media management endpoints using IP whitelisting or VPNs to reduce exposure. 5. Regularly back up WordPress media libraries and site content to enable rapid restoration in case of unauthorized deletions. 6. Conduct security audits and permission reviews to ensure that only authorized users have media deletion capabilities. 7. Educate site administrators about the risks of using outdated or unmaintained plugins and encourage the use of well-supported alternatives. 8. Monitor logs for unusual activity related to media file deletions to detect potential exploitation attempts early.