CVE-2025-31459 Overview
CVE-2025-31459 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the PasqualePuzio Login Alert plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 0.2.1 and enables attackers to inject persistent JavaScript into the application. An attacker chains the CSRF weakness with a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) payload, executing code in the browser of an authenticated administrator who visits a malicious page. Successful exploitation can lead to session theft, account takeover, or further compromise of the WordPress site. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352.
Critical Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can plant persistent JavaScript in the Login Alert plugin by tricking a logged-in administrator into visiting an attacker-controlled URL, leading to administrator-context script execution.
Affected Products
- PasqualePuzio Login Alert plugin for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 0.2.1
- WordPress sites with the login-alert plugin installed and active
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-28 - CVE-2025-31459 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-31459
Vulnerability Analysis
The Login Alert plugin fails to validate the origin or authenticity of state-changing HTTP requests submitted to its administrative endpoints. The plugin does not implement WordPress nonce verification using wp_verify_nonce() or check_admin_referer() on form submissions that modify stored configuration values. An attacker can craft a malicious HTML page that issues a forged POST request to the vulnerable endpoint when an authenticated administrator visits the page.
Because the targeted fields are rendered back into the WordPress dashboard without proper output encoding, the forged input persists as Stored XSS. Subsequent visits to the affected admin page execute the injected JavaScript in the administrator's authenticated session.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing CSRF protection [CWE-352] in the plugin's settings handler. WordPress provides nonce primitives specifically to prevent cross-origin form submissions, but Login Alert versions up to 0.2.1 omit them. The condition is compounded by insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input before storage and rendering, which converts the CSRF defect into a persistent XSS sink.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires user interaction from a privileged WordPress user, typically an administrator. The attacker hosts a page containing an auto-submitting form or fetch request that targets the plugin's settings endpoint on the victim's WordPress site. When the authenticated administrator visits the attacker-controlled page, the browser submits the request with the administrator's session cookies, writing the malicious payload to the database. The stored script then executes whenever any administrator loads the affected settings page. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31459
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected <script> tags, event handlers, or obfuscated JavaScript stored in Login Alert plugin configuration values within the wp_options table.
- HTTP POST requests to WordPress admin endpoints with Referer headers pointing to external or unrelated domains.
- Newly created administrator accounts or modified user roles following an admin session that loaded the plugin settings page.
Detection Strategies
- Audit WordPress database tables for stored payloads containing HTML or JavaScript in fields associated with the login-alert plugin.
- Review web server access logs for cross-origin POST submissions to wp-admin/admin.php or options.php endpoints handled by the plugin.
- Inventory installed WordPress plugins and flag any instance of Login Alert at version 0.2.1 or earlier.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging to capture plugin setting changes, including the originating user and IP address.
- Alert on browser-side Content Security Policy (CSP) violations from the WordPress admin interface, which indicate injected inline script execution.
- Monitor for outbound connections from administrator workstations to unfamiliar domains shortly after dashboard activity.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31459
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the Login Alert plugin from any WordPress installation running version 0.2.1 or earlier until a patched release is verified.
- Force a password reset and session invalidation for all WordPress administrator accounts that may have visited the plugin settings page.
- Inspect plugin configuration values and remove any stored JavaScript or HTML payloads from the database.
Patch Information
No vendor patch is referenced in the available CVE data. Consult the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for current remediation status and replacement guidance.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to the WordPress admin interface using IP allowlisting at the web server or WAF layer.
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall rule that blocks cross-origin POST requests to WordPress admin endpoints lacking a valid Referer header from the same origin.
- Enforce a strict Content Security Policy on the WordPress admin interface to limit inline script execution.
- Require administrators to use a dedicated browser profile or isolated browsing session when managing WordPress to reduce CSRF exposure.
# Example: WordPress CLI commands to identify and remove the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin list --name=login-alert --fields=name,status,version
wp plugin deactivate login-alert
wp plugin delete login-alert
# Example: search wp_options for suspicious stored payloads
wp db query "SELECT option_name, option_value FROM wp_options WHERE option_name LIKE '%login_alert%' AND option_value REGEXP '<script|onerror=|javascript:';"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
