CVE-2025-3099 Overview
CVE-2025-3099 affects the Advanced Search by My Solr Server plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 2.0.5. The plugin fails to implement proper nonce validation on the MySolrServerSettings page, allowing Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks [CWE-352]. Unauthenticated attackers can update plugin settings and inject malicious web scripts through forged requests. Exploitation requires tricking a site administrator into clicking a malicious link or visiting a crafted page. The stored script can then execute in the context of any user viewing the affected pages.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers to alter plugin configuration and inject persistent scripts that execute in administrator browsers, enabling session theft or further site compromise.
Affected Products
- Advanced Search by My Solr Server plugin for WordPress — all versions through 2.0.5
- WordPress sites with the plugin installed and activated
- Administrator sessions authenticated to affected WordPress installations
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-02 - CVE-2025-3099 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-3099
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a Cross-Site Request Forgery flaw in the plugin's settings handler. WordPress provides a nonce mechanism (wp_nonce_field() and check_admin_referer()) to validate that state-changing requests originate from legitimate admin interactions. The Advanced Search by My Solr Server plugin omits or incorrectly implements this validation on the MySolrServerSettings page. As a result, the server cannot distinguish between an intentional administrator action and a forged request delivered from an external origin. Because saved settings are rendered back into admin pages without adequate output sanitization, the flaw also enables Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) as a secondary impact.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or incorrect nonce validation on the settings submission endpoint. The plugin source at advanced-search-by-my-solr-server-options-page.php and advanced-search-by-my-solr-server.php processes POST data without verifying a valid CSRF token tied to the current administrator session. This violates the WordPress security model, which requires nonce checks on every privileged state change.
Attack Vector
An attacker crafts an HTML page or link containing a forged POST request targeting the plugin's settings endpoint. The attacker delivers the link through phishing, a compromised third-party site, or a comment on any site the administrator visits. When the authenticated administrator loads the malicious content, the browser automatically submits the request with valid session cookies. The plugin accepts the input, updates settings, and stores attacker-supplied script content that executes on subsequent page views.
No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly linked to this CVE. Technical details are available in the WordPress Plugin Source Code and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-3099
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to Advanced Search by My Solr Server plugin settings in the WordPress options table
- Presence of <script> tags or JavaScript payloads within stored plugin configuration values
- Administrator browser sessions issuing POST requests to MySolrServerSettings originating from external Referer headers
- Unusual outbound requests from administrator browsers immediately after visiting third-party links
Detection Strategies
- Monitor WordPress wp_options entries associated with the plugin for unexpected content, particularly HTML or script fragments
- Inspect web server access logs for POST requests to the plugin settings page lacking a same-origin Referer or Origin header
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to flag POST requests to wp-admin endpoints without a valid nonce parameter
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable audit logging on WordPress administrative actions using a plugin such as WP Activity Log
- Alert on plugin settings changes outside of expected maintenance windows
- Track administrator authentication events and correlate with subsequent configuration writes
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-3099
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate the Advanced Search by My Solr Server plugin until a patched version is available
- Review current plugin settings for injected script content or unauthorized configuration changes
- Rotate administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if compromise is suspected
- Restrict administrator access to trusted networks and require multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Patch Information
At the time of NVD publication, no fixed version beyond 2.0.5 is referenced. Consult the WordPress Plugin Developer Info page for current release status and update the plugin as soon as a patched version is published.
Workarounds
- Remove or disable the plugin on production sites until a fix is confirmed
- Deploy a WAF ruleset that enforces nonce presence on requests to wp-admin/admin.php?page=MySolrServerSettings
- Train administrators to avoid clicking untrusted links while authenticated to the WordPress admin panel
- Use browser session isolation, logging out of WordPress admin sessions before browsing external sites
# Example: temporarily disable the plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate advanced-search-by-my-solr-server
wp plugin status advanced-search-by-my-solr-server
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
