CVE-2025-31613: AB Google Map Travel CSRF Vulnerability

CVE-2025-31613 Overview

A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability has been identified in the AB Google Map Travel WordPress plugin developed by Aboobacker. This vulnerability allows attackers to trick authenticated users into performing unintended actions without their knowledge or consent. The flaw can be chained with Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), enabling persistent malicious payloads to be injected into the affected WordPress site.

Critical Impact

Attackers can leverage this CSRF vulnerability to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated administrators, potentially leading to stored XSS attacks that compromise site visitors and administrative users.

Affected Products

• AB Google Map Travel WordPress Plugin versions up to and including 4.6
• WordPress installations using the ab-google-map-travel plugin

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-03-31 - CVE CVE-2025-31613 published to NVD
• 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-31613

Vulnerability Analysis

This CSRF vulnerability exists in the AB Google Map Travel plugin due to the absence of proper nonce verification on sensitive administrative actions. When a logged-in administrator visits a malicious webpage crafted by an attacker, the plugin processes unauthorized requests without validating the request's authenticity.

The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be chained with Stored XSS. An attacker can craft a malicious request that not only performs unauthorized actions but also injects persistent JavaScript payloads into the plugin's stored data. These malicious scripts then execute in the browsers of any user who views the affected content, including administrators with elevated privileges.

The attack requires user interaction—specifically, the victim must visit a malicious page or click a malicious link while authenticated to the WordPress site. However, this is a relatively low barrier, as social engineering tactics can effectively lure users to attacker-controlled pages.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the AB Google Map Travel plugin. WordPress provides built-in nonce verification functions (wp_verify_nonce(), wp_nonce_field(), check_admin_referer()) that should be used to validate that form submissions and AJAX requests originate from legitimate sources within the WordPress admin interface.

The plugin's administrative form handlers do not include these validation checks, allowing external websites to submit forged requests that the plugin accepts and processes as legitimate administrative actions.

Attack Vector

The attack follows a network-based vector requiring user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious HTML page containing a hidden form that targets the vulnerable plugin endpoint. This form is automatically submitted via JavaScript when an authenticated WordPress administrator visits the attacker's page.

The attack flow proceeds as follows: the attacker hosts a malicious webpage containing auto-submitting forms targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoints. The attacker then lures an authenticated WordPress administrator to visit this page through phishing emails, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites. Upon visiting the malicious page, the victim's browser automatically sends the forged request with their authenticated session cookies. The plugin processes the request without verifying its origin, executing the attacker's intended action. If the attack includes XSS payloads, these are stored in the database and served to all subsequent visitors.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31613

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected changes to AB Google Map Travel plugin settings or map configurations
• Presence of JavaScript code or suspicious HTML in plugin data fields where only text should exist
• WordPress access logs showing POST requests to plugin endpoints from external referrers
• User reports of unexpected browser behavior or pop-ups when viewing pages with Google Maps

Detection Strategies

• Review WordPress access logs for POST requests to ab-google-map-travel plugin endpoints with external or missing Referer headers
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block cross-origin POST requests to WordPress admin endpoints
• Regularly audit plugin settings and stored content for unauthorized modifications or injected scripts
• Enable browser developer tools or security extensions to detect stored XSS execution

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure WordPress security plugins to alert on plugin settings changes
• Implement file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications to plugin files
• Monitor for outbound connections from the WordPress server that may indicate successful XSS exploitation
• Set up alerts for failed authentication attempts following potential CSRF attacks

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31613

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the AB Google Map Travel plugin to a patched version when available from the developer
• Temporarily deactivate the ab-google-map-travel plugin if it is not critical to site functionality
• Review and sanitize any existing plugin data for injected malicious scripts
• Audit WordPress admin user accounts for unauthorized access or privilege changes

Patch Information

Users should monitor the official WordPress plugin repository for updates to the AB Google Map Travel plugin. Check the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest information on patch availability and remediation guidance.

Until an official patch is released, WordPress administrators should consider alternative plugins with active security maintenance or implement additional protective measures at the web server or WAF level.

Workarounds

• Restrict plugin administrative actions to logged-in sessions from trusted IP addresses only
• Implement additional CSRF protection at the web server level using mod_security or similar WAF solutions
• Use browser extensions that block cross-origin form submissions for administrative sessions
• Educate administrators about phishing risks and avoiding suspicious links while logged into WordPress

# Example .htaccess rules to add Referer checking for WordPress admin
# Add to your WordPress root .htaccess file

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
  RewriteEngine On
  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_METHOD} POST
  RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^https?://(www\.)?yourdomain\.com [NC]
  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/wp-admin/
  RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>