CVE-2025-31474: WP Database Optimizer CSRF Vulnerability

CVE-2025-31474 Overview

CVE-2025-31474 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting the WP Database Optimizer WordPress plugin developed by matthewprice1178. The flaw impacts all versions up to and including 1.2.1.3. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352 and stems from missing or insufficient anti-CSRF protections in plugin request handlers.

An attacker can craft a malicious web page or link that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, triggers unintended state-changing actions in the plugin. Exploitation requires user interaction from a privileged user.

Critical Impact
A successful CSRF attack can trigger unauthorized database optimization operations on behalf of an authenticated WordPress administrator, resulting in limited integrity impact to the affected site.

Affected Products

WP Database Optimizer plugin for WordPress (wp-database-optimizer)
All versions from n/a through 1.2.1.3
WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin with administrative sessions

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-28 - CVE-2025-31474 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-31474

Vulnerability Analysis

The WP Database Optimizer plugin exposes administrative actions without validating the origin of incoming HTTP requests. WordPress provides a nonce mechanism (wp_nonce_field() and check_admin_referer()) to defend against CSRF, but the affected plugin handlers lack proper nonce verification.

An attacker hosts a malicious page containing a forged request targeting the plugin's action endpoint. When a logged-in WordPress administrator visits that page, the browser automatically attaches the session cookies. The plugin then processes the request as if the administrator had initiated it.

The impact is limited to integrity, with no confidentiality or availability impact per the CVSS vector. This aligns with actions the plugin performs, such as triggering database optimization or configuration changes.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing CSRF token validation on state-changing endpoints. The plugin does not verify a wp_nonce value or the HTTP Referer header before executing administrator-scoped operations, allowing cross-origin requests to succeed.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network and requires user interaction. The attacker must convince an authenticated WordPress administrator to visit an attacker-controlled page or click a crafted link. The attack succeeds transparently, without additional privileges required from the attacker.

The vulnerability manifests when the plugin's request handler processes POST or GET actions without verifying an anti-CSRF token. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31474

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected database optimization events in WordPress logs correlated with external HTTP Referer headers
Administrator sessions performing plugin actions immediately after visiting untrusted external sites
WordPress audit trail entries showing plugin actions without corresponding admin UI navigation

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for requests to wp-admin plugin endpoints missing valid nonce parameters
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to flag POST requests to plugin action URLs originating from external referers
Review WordPress activity logs for administrator-triggered plugin actions during off-hours or from unusual sources

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging for the WP Database Optimizer plugin and forward events to a centralized SIEM
Alert on any plugin administrative action lacking an associated authenticated admin console session
Monitor for anomalous outbound requests from administrator browsers to untrusted domains

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31474

Immediate Actions Required

Deactivate the WP Database Optimizer plugin until a patched version is confirmed available
Restrict WordPress administrator accounts to dedicated browsers or sessions that do not visit untrusted sites
Enforce multi-factor authentication on all administrator accounts to reduce blast radius

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no fixed version is listed in the NVD entry. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the plugin's WordPress repository page for updates beyond version 1.2.1.3.

Workarounds

Remove the plugin entirely if a patched version is not available and the functionality is not required
Deploy a WAF rule requiring a same-origin Referer for requests to plugin admin endpoints
Use browser isolation or dedicated administrative workstations to prevent cross-origin exploitation

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) requiring same-origin referer for plugin endpoints
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /wp-admin/admin.php" \
  "chain,phase:2,deny,status:403,id:1003147,msg:'CVE-2025-31474 CSRF protection'"
  SecRule ARGS:page "@contains wp-database-optimizer" "chain"
  SecRule REQUEST_HEADERS:Referer "!@beginsWith https://your-wordpress-site.example/"