CVE-2025-58975 Overview
CVE-2025-58975 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Helmut Wandl Advanced Settings plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of advanced-settings up to and including 3.1.1. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-352] and stems from missing anti-CSRF token validation on privileged plugin actions.
An attacker can craft a malicious web page that triggers unwanted state-changing requests when a logged-in administrator visits it. Successful exploitation requires user interaction from an authenticated victim. The impact is limited to integrity — attackers can modify plugin settings without the user's consent.
Critical Impact
Attackers can trick authenticated WordPress administrators into submitting forged requests that alter Advanced Settings plugin configuration, resulting in unauthorized changes to site behavior.
Affected Products
- Helmut Wandl Advanced Settings plugin for WordPress
- All versions from n/a through 3.1.1
- WordPress sites running the vulnerable advanced-settings plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-09-09 - CVE-2025-58975 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-58975
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists because the Advanced Settings plugin fails to validate the origin and authenticity of state-changing HTTP requests. WordPress provides nonce mechanisms via wp_nonce_field() and check_admin_referer() to defend against CSRF, but these controls are either missing or improperly implemented in the affected plugin handlers.
An attacker hosts a page containing an auto-submitting form or crafted request targeting the plugin's administrative endpoint. When a logged-in WordPress administrator visits the attacker-controlled page, the browser attaches the administrator's authentication cookies to the outbound request. The plugin processes the request as if the administrator initiated it.
The attack requires user interaction, meaning the victim must click a link or load attacker-controlled content while authenticated to the WordPress admin panel. The confidentiality impact is none, and availability is unaffected. Integrity impact is limited to the settings the plugin exposes.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing CSRF protection on privileged actions within the advanced-settings plugin. The plugin does not verify a valid nonce or referer header before applying configuration changes submitted via HTTP POST or GET requests.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network and requires no privileges from the attacker. The attacker only needs to lure a logged-in administrator to a malicious page. The attack chain typically involves phishing, malvertising, or a compromised third-party site loaded while the administrator has an active WordPress session.
No verified public exploit code is available. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-58975
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected changes to Advanced Settings plugin configuration in the WordPress admin panel.
- HTTP POST requests to plugin administrative endpoints with Referer headers pointing to external domains.
- Administrative actions logged from user sessions immediately after visiting an untrusted external URL.
Detection Strategies
- Audit WordPress access logs for requests to advanced-settings plugin endpoints originating with cross-origin Referer values.
- Enable WordPress audit logging plugins to record administrative setting changes with timestamp and originating IP.
- Correlate browser proxy or web gateway logs with WordPress admin activity to identify forged submissions.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor administrative user sessions for state changes that lack a preceding legitimate admin panel navigation.
- Alert on modifications to wp_options entries associated with the Advanced Settings plugin.
- Track outbound browser traffic from administrator workstations to detect visits to untrusted domains during active WordPress sessions.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-58975
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress instances running the advanced-settings plugin at version 3.1.1 or earlier.
- Deactivate the Advanced Settings plugin until a patched version is available and installed.
- Instruct WordPress administrators to log out of the admin panel when not actively managing the site.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory lists affected versions up to and including 3.1.1. Administrators should upgrade to the latest available release from the plugin vendor and verify that CSRF protections are in place before restoring the plugin to production.
Workarounds
- Restrict WordPress admin panel access using IP allowlisting at the web server or WAF layer.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that rejects state-changing requests to plugin endpoints missing a valid same-origin Referer header.
- Enforce browser session isolation by using a dedicated browser or profile exclusively for WordPress administration.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
