CVE-2025-24717: Modal Window Plugin CSRF Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24717 Overview

CVE-2025-24717 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting the Modal Window WordPress plugin developed by Wow-Company. This vulnerability allows attackers to trick authenticated administrators into performing unintended actions, including modifying plugin settings, by exploiting the absence of proper CSRF token validation. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Modal Window plugin up to and including version 6.1.4.

Critical Impact

Attackers can manipulate plugin settings by tricking authenticated administrators into clicking malicious links, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes, content injection, or broader site compromise.

Affected Products

• Wow-Company Modal Window plugin for WordPress (versions up to and including 6.1.4)

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-24 - CVE-2025-24717 published to NVD
• 2026-04-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24717

Vulnerability Analysis

This Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation of request origins in the Modal Window plugin's administrative functionality. The plugin fails to implement proper nonce verification for sensitive operations, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that execute administrative actions when triggered by an authenticated user.

When a WordPress administrator visits a malicious webpage or clicks a crafted link while authenticated, the attacker's request is processed as if it originated from the legitimate admin session. This allows unauthorized modification of plugin settings without the administrator's knowledge or consent.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-24717 is the absence of proper CSRF token (nonce) validation in the plugin's settings management functions. WordPress provides built-in CSRF protection mechanisms through its nonce system (wp_nonce_field() and wp_verify_nonce()), but the Modal Window plugin failed to implement these security controls for critical administrative operations.

Without proper nonce verification, the plugin cannot distinguish between legitimate administrative requests and forged requests initiated by malicious third parties.

Attack Vector

The attack requires social engineering to trick an authenticated WordPress administrator into visiting a malicious page or clicking a crafted link. The attacker creates a webpage containing hidden form elements or JavaScript that automatically submits a request to the vulnerable plugin's settings endpoint.

When the administrator visits the malicious page while logged into their WordPress dashboard, the browser automatically includes session cookies with the forged request. The plugin processes this request as legitimate, applying the attacker-specified configuration changes.

A typical attack scenario involves an attacker hosting a webpage that silently submits a POST request to the WordPress admin-ajax.php or plugin settings endpoint, modifying modal window content, display rules, or other plugin configurations. This could potentially be leveraged to inject malicious content into modal windows displayed to site visitors.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24717

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected changes to Modal Window plugin settings without administrator action
• Suspicious modal window content containing external scripts or links
• Audit logs showing plugin configuration changes during unusual hours or from unexpected sources
• Modified display rules or targeting settings for modal windows

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress admin activity logs for unauthorized plugin setting modifications
• Implement file integrity monitoring to detect unexpected changes to plugin configuration files
• Review HTTP access logs for unusual POST requests to the Modal Window plugin endpoints
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with CSRF attack detection capabilities

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive WordPress audit logging with plugins that track administrative actions
• Configure alerts for any Modal Window plugin configuration changes
• Monitor for outbound connections from modal window content that could indicate injected malicious scripts
• Implement browser-based security headers including Content-Security-Policy to limit potential exploitation impact

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24717

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Modal Window plugin to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability
• Review current Modal Window plugin settings for any unauthorized modifications
• Clear browser cache and re-authenticate WordPress admin sessions
• Implement additional security plugins that provide CSRF protection at the application level

Patch Information

The vulnerability affects Modal Window plugin versions through 6.1.4. Users should check the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability database for the latest security updates and patch information from Wow-Company. Update to the most recent version that includes CSRF protection for all administrative operations.

Workarounds

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with CSRF attack detection rules
• Use browser extensions or settings to restrict automatic form submissions
• Log out of WordPress admin sessions when not actively administering the site
• Access WordPress admin panel only from trusted networks and avoid clicking external links while authenticated

# WordPress CLI command to check Modal Window plugin version
wp plugin list --name=modal-window --fields=name,version,update_version

# Force update the plugin to latest version
wp plugin update modal-window

# Verify plugin integrity after update
wp plugin verify-checksums modal-window