CVE-2025-31469: Clear Sucuri Cache Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2025-31469 Overview

CVE-2025-31469 is a missing authorization vulnerability in the webrangers Clear Sucuri Cache WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions from n/a through 1.4 and stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels [CWE-862]. Unauthenticated attackers can reach plugin functionality that should require privileged access, allowing them to trigger cache-clearing operations against the target WordPress site over the network. The issue is tracked as a broken access control defect and was published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) on March 28, 2025.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network-based attackers can invoke privileged plugin actions on affected WordPress installations, leading to integrity impact on cached content.

Affected Products

Clear Sucuri Cache WordPress plugin (clear-sucuri-cache) versions up to and including 1.4
WordPress sites running the webrangers Clear Sucuri Cache plugin
Any site chaining this plugin with the Sucuri caching layer

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-28 - CVE-2025-31469 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-31469

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a broken access control issue mapped to [CWE-862] Missing Authorization. The Clear Sucuri Cache plugin exposes plugin action endpoints without validating whether the caller holds the required WordPress capability. WordPress plugins typically gate administrative actions with current_user_can() checks and nonce verification through check_admin_referer() or wp_verify_nonce(). When either safeguard is missing, any HTTP client can reach the handler.

The flaw is exploitable over the network with low attack complexity and no privileges or user interaction. Impact is limited to integrity of the plugin's cache-clearing behavior, without direct confidentiality or availability loss on the underlying host. The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) lists this CVE in a low probability tier for near-term exploitation.

Root Cause

The plugin's action handler omits authorization checks before executing cache invalidation logic. Without a capability check tied to an administrator or editor role, and without CSRF protection via WordPress nonces, the endpoint accepts requests from any origin. The result is that access control is enforced only by obscurity of the endpoint path.

Attack Vector

An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint on a target WordPress site. Because no session, cookie, or nonce is required, the request executes with the same effect as an administrator-initiated cache clear. Repeated invocation can be scripted to force continuous cache purges, degrading caching benefits and altering the state of the Sucuri caching integration.

No verified public exploit code is available for CVE-2025-31469. Technical details are documented in the Patchstack advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31469

Indicators of Compromise

Unauthenticated HTTP POST or GET requests to Clear Sucuri Cache plugin action endpoints under /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or /wp-admin/admin-post.php without a valid _wpnonce parameter.
Cache clear events in Sucuri or WordPress logs originating outside normal administrator sessions.
Repeated requests from a single IP or user agent targeting the plugin's action handler.

Detection Strategies

Inspect WordPress access logs for requests to plugin action names associated with clear-sucuri-cache that lack authenticated session cookies.
Correlate cache invalidation events against authenticated admin login timestamps in the wp_users and audit log tables.
Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule that blocks requests to the plugin action endpoint when no valid nonce or authenticated cookie is present.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging on admin-ajax.php and admin-post.php and forward logs to a centralized platform for retention and search.
Alert on anomalous rates of cache-clear operations that exceed a baseline of expected administrator activity.
Track plugin version inventory across managed WordPress sites to identify hosts still running clear-sucuri-cache version 1.4 or earlier.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31469

Immediate Actions Required

Deactivate the Clear Sucuri Cache plugin on any WordPress site running version 1.4 or earlier until a patched release is confirmed.
Restrict access to /wp-admin/ and plugin AJAX endpoints via IP allowlisting or WAF policy where operationally feasible.
Audit recent WordPress and Sucuri logs for signs of unauthorized cache clear invocations.

Patch Information

Refer to the Patchstack advisory for the latest guidance on a fixed release. As published, the vulnerability affects all versions through 1.4. Sites should update to any vendor-supplied version that documents an authorization fix, or replace the plugin with a maintained alternative.

Workarounds

Block unauthenticated requests to Clear Sucuri Cache action handlers using a WAF rule that requires a valid WordPress authentication cookie.
Add a mu-plugin shim that wraps the plugin's action hooks with current_user_can('manage_options') and check_admin_referer() checks.
Remove the plugin and clear the Sucuri cache manually through the Sucuri dashboard until a patched version is deployed.

bash

# Example WAF rule concept (ModSecurity) to block unauthenticated plugin action calls
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@rx /wp-admin/admin-(ajax|post)\.php" \
  "chain,deny,status:403,id:1003149,msg:'Block unauth Clear Sucuri Cache action'"
  SecRule ARGS:action "@rx clear[-_]sucuri[-_]cache" \
    "chain"
    SecRule &REQUEST_COOKIES:/wordpress_logged_in_/ "@eq 0"