CVE-2025-14845 Overview
CVE-2025-14845 affects the NS IE Compatibility Fixer plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 2.1.5. The plugin fails to validate nonces on its settings update functionality, exposing it to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks [CWE-352]. Unauthenticated attackers can modify plugin settings by tricking an authenticated administrator into clicking a crafted link or visiting a malicious page. The vulnerability requires user interaction but does not require attacker authentication.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows unauthenticated attackers to alter plugin settings through forged requests, compromising the integrity of WordPress site configuration without administrator awareness.
Affected Products
- NS IE Compatibility Fixer plugin for WordPress, all versions up to and including 2.1.5
- WordPress installations with the plugin active and an authenticated administrator session
- Any site relying on the vulnerable ns_admin_option_dashboard.php and ns_settings_custom.php endpoints
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-07 - CVE-2025-14845 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-14845
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a classic Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) flaw rooted in missing nonce validation. WordPress provides built-in mechanisms such as wp_verify_nonce() and check_admin_referer() to validate that state-changing requests originate from legitimate user actions. The NS IE Compatibility Fixer plugin omits these checks on its settings update handlers.
An attacker can craft an HTML page or link that submits a forged POST request to the vulnerable settings endpoint. If a logged-in WordPress administrator visits the attacker-controlled content, the browser automatically includes the administrator's session cookies. The plugin processes the request as if it were a legitimate administrative action.
While the resulting impact is limited to plugin configuration changes, the absence of any anti-CSRF token allows attackers to silently modify settings without administrator consent.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of nonce validation in the plugin's settings handlers at ns-admin-options/ns_admin_option_dashboard.php and ns-admin-options/ns_settings_custom.php. The code accepts and processes form submissions without verifying a WordPress nonce or referer, violating standard WordPress plugin security guidance.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires an attacker to deliver a forged request payload to an authenticated administrator. Typical delivery methods include phishing emails containing malicious links, attacker-controlled web pages with auto-submitting forms, or malicious advertisements. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network with low attack complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction needed.
The vulnerability is described in the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis and the affected source can be reviewed in the NS IE Compatibility Fixer Code. No public proof-of-concept exploit code is currently available.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14845
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to NS IE Compatibility Fixer plugin settings in the WordPress database wp_options table
- HTTP POST requests to the plugin's admin pages originating from external Referer headers or with no Referer set
- Administrator account activity logs showing settings updates without corresponding admin panel navigation
Detection Strategies
- Monitor WordPress audit logs for changes to plugin settings outside of normal administrator workflows
- Inspect web server access logs for POST requests targeting ns-admin-options/ paths with suspicious Referer or Origin headers
- Compare current plugin option values against known-good baselines to identify unauthorized changes
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress activity logging plugin to capture all option and settings updates with user attribution
- Alert on administrator browser sessions that perform settings updates immediately after visiting external links
- Track outbound clicks from administrator email accounts to flag potential phishing vectors leading to CSRF payloads
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14845
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate the NS IE Compatibility Fixer plugin until a patched release is available, as version 2.1.5 and earlier remain vulnerable
- Require administrators to log out of WordPress before browsing untrusted sites or clicking external links
- Restrict administrator accounts to dedicated browsers or profiles isolated from general web browsing
Patch Information
No vendor-supplied patch has been confirmed as of the last NVD update on 2026-04-15. The fix requires the plugin author to add wp_nonce_field() to settings forms and validate submissions with check_admin_referer() or wp_verify_nonce() before processing. Review the WordPress Security Nonces Guide for proper implementation. Monitor the plugin's repository for an update beyond version 2.1.5 and apply it once released.
Workarounds
- Remove the plugin if Internet Explorer compatibility is no longer a business requirement, since IE reached end of support
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that requires a valid Referer or Origin header matching the site's domain for requests to ns-admin-options/ endpoints
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ by IP allowlist where feasible, limiting the exposure surface for forged administrative requests
# Example Apache .htaccess rule to enforce same-origin Referer on plugin admin endpoints
<FilesMatch "(ns_admin_option_dashboard|ns_settings_custom)\.php$">
SetEnvIfNoCase Referer "^https://your-site\.example/" allowed_ref
Require env allowed_ref
</FilesMatch>
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
