CVE-2025-46232 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) identified in the product Download Alt Text AI by alttextai, affecting versions up to 1.9.93. The vulnerability arises due to improperly configured access control mechanisms, allowing unauthorized users to exploit the system by bypassing authorization checks. Specifically, the issue involves the failure to enforce proper authorization controls on certain functionalities or endpoints within the Download Alt Text AI application. This misconfiguration can enable attackers to access or manipulate resources or data that should be restricted, potentially leading to unauthorized data exposure or modification. Although the exact technical vectors are not detailed, the nature of CWE-862 suggests that the vulnerability is related to missing or insufficient checks on user permissions before granting access to sensitive operations or data. No patches or fixes have been published at the time of this report, and there are no known exploits in the wild. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on April 22, 2025, and is classified with a medium severity level by the vendor and reporting entities. The lack of authentication or insufficient authorization checks indicates that exploitation could be performed without valid credentials or by users with lower privilege levels, increasing the risk of unauthorized access within affected environments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-46232 can be significant depending on the deployment scale of Download Alt Text AI. This product likely serves organizations that rely on AI-driven accessibility tools to generate or manage alternative text for images, which is critical for compliance with accessibility regulations such as the EU Web Accessibility Directive. Unauthorized access due to missing authorization controls could lead to exposure or manipulation of sensitive content, potentially violating data protection laws like GDPR if personal or confidential information is involved. Additionally, unauthorized modifications could degrade the integrity of accessibility data, impacting user experience for disabled users and potentially leading to legal and reputational consequences. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability may not directly lead to full system compromise, it can facilitate unauthorized data access or privilege escalation within the application context. European organizations in sectors such as public administration, education, and digital services—where accessibility compliance is mandatory—may face operational disruptions or compliance risks if this vulnerability is exploited.

Given the absence of an official patch, European organizations should implement compensating controls to mitigate the risk. These include: 1) Conducting a thorough access control audit on the Download Alt Text AI deployment to identify and restrict any endpoints or functionalities lacking proper authorization checks. 2) Implementing network-level segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to the application only to trusted users and systems. 3) Enforcing strict authentication and role-based access control (RBAC) policies to minimize the attack surface. 4) Monitoring application logs and user activities for unusual access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Engaging with the vendor for timely updates and patches, and preparing for rapid deployment once available. 6) Considering temporary disabling or restricting use of vulnerable features if feasible until a patch is released. 7) Educating administrators and users about the risks and signs of exploitation related to missing authorization vulnerabilities.