CVE-2025-12413 Overview
CVE-2025-12413 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Social Media WPCF7 Stop Words plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.1.3. The root cause is missing or incorrect nonce validation on the smWpCfSwOptions() function. Unauthenticated attackers can update plugin settings and inject malicious web scripts by tricking a site administrator into clicking a crafted link. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-352 and requires user interaction to succeed.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers to modify plugin settings and inject stored scripts that execute in the context of an authenticated WordPress administrator session.
Affected Products
- Social Media WPCF7 Stop Words plugin for WordPress — all versions through 1.1.3
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-04 - CVE-2025-12413 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-12413
Vulnerability Analysis
The Social Media WPCF7 Stop Words plugin exposes an administrative settings handler that lacks a valid CSRF nonce check. WordPress provides wp_nonce_field() and check_admin_referer() primitives to prevent forged administrative requests. The plugin's smWpCfSwOptions() function does not correctly validate these tokens before processing settings updates.
An attacker who lures an authenticated administrator to a malicious page can trigger a state-changing request that the browser sends with the administrator's session cookies. Because the plugin cannot distinguish this forged request from a legitimate one, arbitrary settings are updated. The attacker can inject web scripts through the plugin's configuration fields, resulting in stored cross-site scripting that executes in future administrator sessions.
Root Cause
The underlying defect is missing or incorrect nonce validation on the smWpCfSwOptions() function [CWE-352]. Without a server-side check of a request-bound token, the plugin trusts any authenticated request reaching the settings endpoint. This violates the WordPress security guidance for administrative form handlers.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker hosts a page containing a hidden HTML form or JavaScript that auto-submits a POST request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. When a logged-in administrator visits the page, the browser attaches valid session cookies, and the plugin processes the attacker-controlled payload. The injected content can then run in the administrator's browser on subsequent visits to the affected settings screen.
See the WordPress plugin source code and the Wordfence vulnerability report for additional technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-12413
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to Social Media WPCF7 Stop Words plugin settings in the WordPress wp_options table.
- Presence of <script> tags, event handlers, or obfuscated JavaScript inside plugin configuration values.
- Administrator browser sessions loading external scripts from unfamiliar domains after visiting the plugin settings page.
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress audit logs for POST requests to the plugin's admin handler that originate from external Referer headers.
- Compare stored plugin option values against a known-good baseline to identify unauthorized changes.
- Deploy web application firewall rules that alert on state-changing requests to WordPress admin endpoints lacking a valid _wpnonce parameter.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable request logging on wp-admin endpoints and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform for cross-referencing with administrator activity.
- Monitor for anomalous outbound requests from administrator browsers that could indicate injected script execution.
- Track plugin option-change events with a file and database integrity monitoring tool.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-12413
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate the Social Media WPCF7 Stop Words plugin until a patched release is available.
- Restrict administrator access to trusted networks and require multi-factor authentication for wp-admin.
- Audit current plugin settings for injected script content and restore known-good values.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no fixed version has been identified beyond 1.1.3. Site operators should monitor the WordPress plugin repository and the Wordfence advisory for an updated release that adds proper nonce validation to smWpCfSwOptions().
Workarounds
- Remove the plugin entirely if the stop-words functionality is not essential to site operations.
- Configure a web application firewall to require a valid _wpnonce parameter on requests targeting the plugin's settings endpoint.
- Instruct administrators to log out of WordPress before browsing untrusted sites and to use a dedicated browser profile for administrative tasks.
# Configuration example: disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate social-media-wpcf7-stop-words
wp plugin delete social-media-wpcf7-stop-words
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
