CVE-2025-23446: WP SpaceContent CSRF Vulnerability

CVE-2025-23446 Overview

A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability has been identified in the KokoenDE WP SpaceContent WordPress plugin (wp-spacecontent) that allows attackers to chain the CSRF with Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). This vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin from its initial release through version 0.4.5. The flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into the WordPress site by tricking authenticated administrators into performing unintended actions.

Critical Impact

Attackers can leverage this CSRF-to-Stored-XSS chain to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the browsers of site visitors and administrators, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, website defacement, and malware distribution.

Affected Products

• WP SpaceContent plugin versions through 0.4.5
• WordPress sites using the vulnerable WP SpaceContent plugin
• KokoenDE wp-spacecontent installations without CSRF token validation

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-03-03 - CVE-2025-23446 published to NVD
• 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-23446

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a chained attack scenario combining two distinct web application security flaws: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) and Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). The WP SpaceContent plugin fails to implement proper CSRF token validation on forms that accept user input, and simultaneously lacks adequate output encoding when rendering that stored content.

The attack requires user interaction where an authenticated administrator must be tricked into visiting a malicious page or clicking a crafted link. Once triggered, the attacker's payload is stored persistently in the WordPress database and executes whenever the affected page is viewed.

The network-based attack vector with low complexity makes this vulnerability accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. The scope change indicator in the vulnerability assessment confirms that successful exploitation can impact resources beyond the vulnerable component itself, affecting site visitors who interact with the compromised pages.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is twofold:

1. Missing CSRF Protection (CWE-352): The plugin's form submission handlers do not validate nonce tokens or implement other anti-CSRF measures, allowing attackers to forge requests on behalf of authenticated users.

2. Insufficient Input Sanitization: User-supplied data is stored in the database without proper sanitization and rendered on pages without adequate output encoding, enabling the injection of malicious JavaScript code.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed over the network and requires an attacker to craft a malicious HTML page or link containing a forged request. The attack flow proceeds as follows:

1. The attacker creates a malicious webpage containing a hidden form that submits data to the vulnerable WP SpaceContent plugin endpoint
2. The attacker tricks a logged-in WordPress administrator into visiting the malicious page
3. The forged request is automatically submitted using the administrator's authenticated session
4. The malicious XSS payload is stored in the WordPress database
5. When any user visits the affected page, the stored JavaScript executes in their browser context

The vulnerability is exploited by embedding JavaScript payloads within plugin settings or content fields. A typical attack payload might include script tags designed to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing pages, or inject additional malicious content. The stored nature of this XSS means the malicious code persists and affects all visitors until manually removed by an administrator.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23446

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected JavaScript code or <script> tags appearing in WP SpaceContent plugin settings or content areas
• Anomalous HTTP POST requests to WP SpaceContent plugin endpoints from external referrers
• Browser console errors indicating blocked cross-origin script execution attempts
• Unusual administrator activity logs showing settings changes without corresponding login sessions

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block requests containing suspicious JavaScript payloads targeting the wp-spacecontent plugin
• Monitor WordPress admin action logs for unauthorized modifications to WP SpaceContent settings
• Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to detect and prevent inline script execution
• Regularly audit stored content in the plugin's database tables for malicious code injection

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed access logging on the WordPress site to track requests to plugin endpoints
• Configure alerts for POST requests to WP SpaceContent administrative functions from unusual referrer origins
• Implement integrity monitoring on WordPress database tables associated with the plugin
• Review browser developer tools network logs for unexpected outbound requests that may indicate XSS payload execution

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23446

Immediate Actions Required

• Deactivate and remove the WP SpaceContent plugin if it is not essential to site functionality
• Audit all stored content within the plugin for malicious JavaScript code and remove any suspicious entries
• Review WordPress user accounts and sessions for signs of compromise
• Implement a Web Application Firewall with rules to block CSRF and XSS attack patterns

Patch Information

At the time of this advisory, no official patch has been confirmed for this vulnerability. Site administrators should monitor the Patchstack vulnerability database for updates regarding security fixes from the plugin developer. Consider replacing the plugin with an alternative solution that has active security maintenance.

Workarounds

• Remove or deactivate the WP SpaceContent plugin until a patched version is available
• Implement server-level CSRF protection using security plugins such as Wordfence or Sucuri
• Add Content Security Policy headers to prevent inline script execution: Content-Security-Policy: script-src 'self'
• Restrict administrative access to the WordPress dashboard using IP allowlisting or VPN requirements

# Configuration example - Add to .htaccess to implement CSP headers
<IfModule mod_headers.c>
    Header set Content-Security-Policy "script-src 'self'; object-src 'none';"
    Header set X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block"
    Header set X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff"
</IfModule>