CVE-2025-31079 Overview
CVE-2025-31079 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Usermaven WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions of Usermaven up to and including 1.2.1. Attackers can trick authenticated users into submitting unintended state-changing requests to a WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin. Successful exploitation requires user interaction, such as clicking a crafted link or visiting an attacker-controlled page. The vulnerability maps to [CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery]. Impact is limited to integrity, with no direct effect on confidentiality or availability.
Critical Impact
Attackers can force authenticated WordPress users to perform unintended actions in the Usermaven plugin, resulting in low-integrity impact on plugin state or configuration.
Affected Products
- Usermaven WordPress plugin versions up to and including 1.2.1
- WordPress installations with the Usermaven plugin enabled
- Sites where administrators or privileged users interact with untrusted content
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-28 - CVE-2025-31079 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-31079
Vulnerability Analysis
The Usermaven plugin exposes one or more state-changing endpoints without adequate CSRF protection. WordPress plugins typically defend against CSRF using nonces generated by wp_create_nonce() and validated with check_admin_referer() or wp_verify_nonce(). When these controls are missing or improperly implemented, an attacker can craft a malicious HTML page or link that submits a forged request. If a logged-in user with the required privileges visits that page, the browser attaches the user's session cookies and the request executes with the victim's authority.
The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. Attack complexity is low and no attacker privileges are required prior to the interaction. Only integrity is affected, meaning the attacker can modify plugin data or trigger administrative actions but cannot directly read sensitive information or crash the service.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient anti-CSRF token validation on plugin request handlers. The plugin does not verify that state-changing requests originate from the legitimate WordPress admin interface, allowing cross-origin requests to be processed as if they were user-initiated.
Attack Vector
An attacker hosts a page containing a hidden form or JavaScript that targets a vulnerable Usermaven endpoint on the victim's WordPress site. The attacker sends the URL to an authenticated administrator through phishing, social media, or a comment. When the victim visits the page while logged in to WordPress, the browser submits the forged request with valid session cookies, and the plugin processes it without verifying a nonce or origin header.
No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory for additional technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31079
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected changes to Usermaven plugin settings or tracking configuration in WordPress
- Inbound POST requests to Usermaven endpoints with Referer headers pointing to external, untrusted domains
- Administrator sessions triggering plugin actions immediately after visiting external links
- Web server access logs showing plugin admin requests without a preceding admin panel navigation
Detection Strategies
- Inspect HTTP request logs for state-changing requests to Usermaven admin endpoints that lack a valid _wpnonce parameter
- Correlate WordPress audit logs with browser referrer data to identify plugin actions originating from off-site pages
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that flags plugin POST requests with cross-origin Origin or Referer values
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable a WordPress audit logging plugin to record configuration changes made through Usermaven
- Monitor administrator account activity for actions performed outside normal working hours or from unusual sources
- Alert on the installation or modification of tracking scripts that could indicate abuse of the plugin
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31079
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Usermaven plugin to a version later than 1.2.1 as soon as a patched release is available from the vendor
- Restrict WordPress administrator accounts to trusted devices and avoid browsing untrusted content while authenticated
- Enforce strong session management, including short session lifetimes and re-authentication for sensitive operations
Patch Information
The vulnerability affects Usermaven versions through 1.2.1. Consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory for the current patched version and vendor guidance. Apply the fixed release through the WordPress plugin manager once available.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the Usermaven plugin until a patched version can be installed
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that blocks requests to Usermaven admin endpoints missing a valid WordPress nonce
- Require administrators to use a dedicated browser profile for WordPress management to reduce cross-site request exposure
- Apply the SameSite=Lax or SameSite=Strict attribute to WordPress session cookies where compatible
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
