CVE-2025-14999 Overview
CVE-2025-14999 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting the Latest Tabs plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 1.5. The flaw stems from missing or incorrect nonce validation on the settings update handler in admin-page.php. Unauthenticated attackers can modify plugin settings by tricking a site administrator into clicking a crafted link or visiting a malicious page. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-352] (Cross-Site Request Forgery) and requires user interaction to succeed.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers to alter Latest Tabs plugin configuration on a WordPress site without authentication, contingent on social engineering an administrator.
Affected Products
- WordPress Latest Tabs plugin (kento-latest-tabs) versions through 1.5
- WordPress sites with the Latest Tabs plugin installed and activated
- Administrator sessions interacting with attacker-controlled content
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-07 - CVE-2025-14999 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-14999
Vulnerability Analysis
The Latest Tabs plugin processes administrative settings updates through the handler defined in admin-page.php. The handler accepts POST data to modify plugin configuration but does not properly verify a WordPress nonce token before applying changes. WordPress nonces are the standard anti-CSRF mechanism, and their absence leaves the settings endpoint open to forged cross-origin requests.
An attacker hosts a page containing a hidden form or auto-submitting JavaScript that targets the plugin's settings endpoint on a victim WordPress site. When an authenticated administrator visits the attacker page, the browser sends the request along with the administrator's session cookies. The plugin processes the request as legitimate and saves the attacker-supplied settings values.
The impact is limited to integrity of the plugin configuration. The CVSS vector indicates no confidentiality or availability impact, and user interaction is required. See the WordPress Plugin Code Review and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Root Cause
The settings update handler in admin-page.php omits a call to check_admin_referer() or wp_verify_nonce(). Without nonce validation, the plugin cannot distinguish between a request originating from the WordPress admin UI and a forged request initiated by a third-party site.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network and requires an authenticated administrator to interact with attacker-controlled content. The attacker crafts an HTML page that issues a POST request to the vulnerable handler. Delivery vectors include phishing emails, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites visited by the administrator while logged in.
No verified exploit code is publicly available. The vulnerability mechanism is described in prose; refer to the linked Wordfence advisory for further detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14999
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to Latest Tabs plugin settings recorded in WordPress options tables (wp_options).
- Web server access logs showing POST requests to the plugin's admin-page.php settings handler with Referer headers pointing to external domains.
- Administrator browser history containing visits to untrusted sites immediately preceding configuration changes.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor WordPress audit logs for plugin settings changes that lack a corresponding administrator-initiated session in the admin dashboard.
- Inspect HTTP request logs for POST requests targeting the Latest Tabs settings endpoint with missing or invalid _wpnonce parameters.
- Compare current plugin settings against a known-good baseline and alert on drift.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress security plugin that logs administrative actions and flags nonce-less state-changing requests.
- Forward web server and WordPress audit logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation with administrator authentication events.
- Alert on POST requests to plugin administrative endpoints originating with cross-origin Referer or Origin headers.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14999
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate the Latest Tabs plugin until a patched version is available, particularly on sites where administrators handle untrusted email or web content.
- Review plugin settings for unauthorized modifications and restore known-good values.
- Instruct administrators to log out of WordPress sessions when not actively managing the site.
Patch Information
No vendor-supplied patched version is referenced in the NVD entry at the time of publication. Monitor the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the plugin's repository for an updated release that adds wp_verify_nonce() or check_admin_referer() validation to the settings handler.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ paths using web application firewall rules or IP allow-listing for administrator workstations.
- Deploy a WordPress security plugin that enforces CSRF protections on administrative POST requests.
- Require administrators to use a dedicated browser profile for WordPress management to reduce exposure to forged cross-origin requests.
- Remove the Latest Tabs plugin if it is not essential to site operations.
# Configuration example: disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate kento-latest-tabs
wp plugin uninstall kento-latest-tabs
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
