CVE-2025-14613: WordPress GetContentFromURL SSRF Flaw

CVE-2025-14613 Overview

CVE-2025-14613 is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability affecting the GetContentFromURL plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 1.0. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's improper use of wp_remote_get() instead of the safer wp_safe_remote_get() function when fetching content from user-supplied URLs via the [gcfu] shortcode. This security flaw enables authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher to craft malicious requests that originate from the web application server, potentially allowing them to query and modify information from internal services that would otherwise be inaccessible from the external network.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can leverage this SSRF vulnerability to make arbitrary web requests from the WordPress server, enabling access to internal services, cloud metadata endpoints, and potentially sensitive internal infrastructure.

Affected Products

• GetContentFromURL WordPress Plugin version 1.0 and earlier
• WordPress installations with the GetContentFromURL plugin enabled
• Any internal services accessible from the WordPress server

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-14 - CVE-2025-14613 published to NVD
• 2026-01-14 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14613

Vulnerability Analysis

The GetContentFromURL plugin provides a WordPress shortcode [gcfu] that allows site administrators and content contributors to embed external content within posts and pages. The vulnerability exists within the shortcode handler located in shortcode.class.php, where the plugin processes the url parameter without adequate validation or restriction.

The core issue is the use of wp_remote_get() for fetching remote content. While this WordPress function is suitable for general HTTP requests, it lacks the built-in protections provided by wp_safe_remote_get(), which specifically blocks requests to private IP ranges, localhost, and other potentially dangerous destinations. This oversight allows attackers to specify internal network addresses, cloud metadata endpoints (such as http://169.254.169.254/), or localhost services as targets for the HTTP request.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper selection of HTTP request functions within the WordPress plugin development context. The developer used wp_remote_get() which does not implement host validation or restrictions on target URLs. The wp_safe_remote_get() function, designed specifically for handling user-provided URLs, implements checks against local and private IP addresses, preventing SSRF attacks. This security-by-design function was available but not utilized, leaving the plugin vulnerable to server-side request manipulation.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker with at least Contributor-level permissions can exploit this vulnerability by creating or editing a post containing the [gcfu] shortcode with a malicious URL parameter. When the post is rendered or previewed, the WordPress server executes the HTTP request to the attacker-specified destination. This network-based attack requires no user interaction beyond the initial authentication and can target internal services, cloud metadata APIs, database management interfaces, or other backend systems accessible from the WordPress server's network context. The attack can potentially lead to information disclosure from internal services or, in some scenarios, modification of internal data depending on the targeted service's capabilities.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14613

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual outbound HTTP requests from the WordPress server to internal IP ranges (10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x-172.31.x.x, 192.168.x.x)
• HTTP requests to cloud metadata endpoints such as 169.254.169.254 originating from the web application
• Posts or pages containing [gcfu] shortcodes with suspicious URL parameters targeting non-public addresses
• Unexpected access to internal services logged from the WordPress server's IP address

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web server logs for outbound requests to private IP ranges or localhost addresses
• Implement network-level monitoring to detect egress traffic from web servers to internal infrastructure
• Review WordPress post content for [gcfu] shortcode usage with internal or suspicious URL parameters
• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SSRF attack patterns in shortcode parameters

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the WordPress server's outbound network connections
• Configure alerts for any HTTP requests from the WordPress server to cloud metadata endpoints or internal services
• Periodically audit user accounts with Contributor-level access or above for suspicious activity
• Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect lateral movement attempts originating from web application servers

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14613

Immediate Actions Required

• Disable or remove the GetContentFromURL plugin from all WordPress installations until a patched version is available
• Review existing posts and pages for potentially malicious [gcfu] shortcode usage
• Restrict Contributor-level access to trusted users only
• Implement network-level controls to prevent the WordPress server from accessing internal services or metadata endpoints

Patch Information

No official patch has been confirmed at this time. Website administrators should consult the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for the latest information on available fixes. The vulnerable code can be reviewed in the WordPress Plugin Source Code repository.

Workarounds

• Deactivate and delete the GetContentFromURL plugin until a security update is released
• If the plugin functionality is essential, implement a custom wrapper that uses wp_safe_remote_get() instead of wp_remote_get()
• Configure firewall rules to block outbound requests from the web server to private IP ranges and cloud metadata endpoints
• Use a reverse proxy with SSRF protection capabilities in front of the WordPress installation

# Example iptables rules to block outbound SSRF attempts to internal networks
# Block access to common internal IP ranges from web server
iptables -A OUTPUT -d 10.0.0.0/8 -m owner --uid-owner www-data -j DROP
iptables -A OUTPUT -d 172.16.0.0/12 -m owner --uid-owner www-data -j DROP
iptables -A OUTPUT -d 192.168.0.0/16 -m owner --uid-owner www-data -j DROP
iptables -A OUTPUT -d 169.254.169.254 -m owner --uid-owner www-data -j DROP