CVE-2025-26582 Overview
CVE-2025-26582 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Blackbam TinyMCE Advanced qTranslate fix editor problems WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.0.0. Successful exploitation allows attackers to chain the CSRF weakness into a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack, persisting malicious JavaScript within the WordPress site. The vulnerability requires user interaction, typically tricking an authenticated administrator into visiting an attacker-controlled page. The issue is tracked under CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery.
Critical Impact
Attackers can inject persistent JavaScript into the WordPress site by tricking an authenticated user, leading to session theft, administrative account compromise, and content tampering.
Affected Products
- Blackbam TinyMCE Advanced qTranslate fix editor problems plugin for WordPress
- All versions from n/a through 1.0.0
- WordPress installations with the tinymce-advanced-qtranslate-fix-editor-problems plugin active
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-13 - CVE-2025-26582 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26582
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from missing or improper CSRF protection in the TinyMCE Advanced qTranslate fix editor problems plugin. The plugin fails to validate the origin and authenticity of state-changing requests, allowing attackers to forge requests on behalf of authenticated WordPress users. Because the affected endpoints accept user-controlled input that is later rendered without sufficient sanitization, the CSRF flaw escalates into Stored XSS. Malicious payloads submitted through the forged request remain stored in the WordPress database and execute in the browser of any user who visits the affected page.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of valid CSRF tokens (WordPress nonces) on plugin endpoints that modify persistent state. WordPress provides wp_nonce_field() and check_admin_referer() mechanisms to mitigate CSRF, but the affected plugin versions do not enforce these checks. Combined with insufficient output encoding of stored values, the missing nonce verification enables the CSRF-to-stored-XSS chain.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based with low complexity and no privilege requirement, but user interaction is required. An attacker hosts a malicious page containing an auto-submitting form or image tag that targets the vulnerable plugin endpoint. When an authenticated WordPress administrator visits the page, the browser issues the forged request using the victim's session cookies. The plugin processes the request and stores the attacker's JavaScript payload. The payload subsequently executes for any visitor rendering the affected content. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26582
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script>, onerror, or onload attributes in WordPress post content, plugin settings, or options stored in the database.
- Outbound requests from administrator browsers to unknown domains after visiting external links.
- New or modified administrator accounts created shortly after a known plugin settings change.
- HTTP POST requests to plugin endpoints lacking the _wpnonce parameter in web server access logs.
Detection Strategies
- Audit the wp_options table and plugin-specific records for stored HTML or JavaScript content not entered by legitimate users.
- Inspect WordPress access logs for cross-origin Referer headers targeting plugin administration endpoints.
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that flags requests to plugin endpoints missing valid WordPress nonces.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor file integrity of plugin files under wp-content/plugins/tinymce-advanced-qtranslate-fix-editor-problems/.
- Track administrator-level actions and content modifications in WordPress audit logs.
- Alert on outbound DNS queries to suspicious domains originating from administrator workstations after WordPress sessions.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26582
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the tinymce-advanced-qtranslate-fix-editor-problems plugin until a patched version is available.
- Review the WordPress database for stored XSS payloads and remove any unauthorized script content.
- Force a password reset and re-authentication for all administrator accounts.
- Rotate WordPress salts and authentication keys defined in wp-config.php.
Patch Information
No patched version is currently available. The vulnerability affects all releases through 1.0.0, and the plugin has not received an official security update at the time of disclosure. Consult the Patchstack advisory for updates on remediation status.
Workarounds
- Uninstall the affected plugin and substitute equivalent functionality using a maintained alternative.
- Restrict administrator access to trusted IP ranges via web server or WAF rules.
- Enforce Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit inline script execution within the WordPress admin interface.
- Train administrators to avoid clicking untrusted links while authenticated to the WordPress dashboard.
# Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate tinymce-advanced-qtranslate-fix-editor-problems
wp plugin delete tinymce-advanced-qtranslate-fix-editor-problems
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
