CVE-2025-49431 Overview
CVE-2025-49431 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability [CWE-862] in the Gnuget MF Plus WPML (mf-plus-wpml) WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 1.1. Attackers can exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels to modify plugin settings without proper authorization. The issue is network-exploitable and requires no authentication or user interaction.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can alter plugin settings on affected WordPress sites, resulting in limited integrity and availability impact against sites running MF Plus WPML through version 1.1.
Affected Products
- Gnuget MF Plus WPML plugin for WordPress
- MF Plus WPML versions from n/a through 1.1
- WordPress sites with mf-plus-wpml installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-07-04 - CVE-2025-49431 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-49431
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from missing authorization checks in the MF Plus WPML plugin. The plugin exposes settings-modification functionality without verifying that the requesting user holds appropriate privileges. Attackers reach the vulnerable endpoint directly over the network without authentication.
Successful exploitation permits unauthorized changes to plugin configuration. This can degrade site behavior and disrupt WPML-integrated functionality. Public exploitation code is not currently listed, and CISA has not added this CVE to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS probability sits near the lower end of the scale, indicating limited current exploitation activity.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of capability and nonce validation on privileged actions within the plugin. WordPress plugins typically enforce access control using current_user_can() capability checks and wp_verify_nonce() request validation. The mf-plus-wpml plugin omits these controls on settings-change handlers, allowing unauthenticated requests to invoke administrator-only logic. This maps to CWE-862, Missing Authorization.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and unauthenticated. An attacker crafts HTTP requests targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoint on a WordPress site. Because no authorization gate exists, the plugin processes the request and applies attacker-supplied settings values. The attack requires no user interaction and no prior foothold on the target.
The vulnerability manifests when the plugin registers action handlers without wrapping privileged operations in capability checks. See the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability advisory for technical details on the affected code paths.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49431
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to MF Plus WPML plugin settings recorded in the WordPress database wp_options table
- Unauthenticated POST requests targeting admin-ajax.php or plugin-specific endpoints associated with mf-plus-wpml
- Access log entries showing settings-related plugin actions from external IP addresses without an authenticated admin session cookie
Detection Strategies
- Monitor WordPress access logs for requests to mf-plus-wpml endpoints that lack valid administrator session cookies or nonces
- Baseline plugin configuration values and alert on unauthorized changes to mf-plus-wpml option keys
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule to flag requests hitting the plugin's action handlers from unauthenticated sources
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress audit logging to capture plugin settings changes with user attribution
- Correlate HTTP request patterns with database write events targeting plugin option rows
- Review the plugin's activity daily on sites running versions at or below 1.1 until a fix is installed
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49431
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress sites running the MF Plus WPML plugin at version 1.1 or earlier
- Deactivate and remove the mf-plus-wpml plugin if a patched version is not yet available
- Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin endpoints using WAF rules pending remediation
- Audit plugin settings and restore known-good values if unauthorized changes are detected
Patch Information
No fixed version is listed in the advisory at the time of publication. Affected releases span from n/a through version 1.1. Consult the Patchstack advisory for updates on a vendor-issued patch.
Workarounds
- Remove the plugin until the vendor publishes a patched release
- Apply virtual patching through a WAF to block unauthenticated requests to mf-plus-wpml action handlers
- Restrict administrative endpoints by source IP where feasible
- Enforce least-privilege access on WordPress user accounts and monitor for unauthorized role changes
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
