CVE-2025-23435 is a high-severity Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting the marcucci Password Protect Plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, potentially leading to stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.1, indicating a high level of severity due to its exploitability and potential impact. Organizations using this plugin should prioritize patching to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
The vulnerability was made public on January 16, 2025, and affects versions of the plugin up to and including version 0.8.1.0. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts in the context of the user's session, which can compromise user data and site integrity. Given the nature of the vulnerability, organizations using the affected versions should take immediate action.
Given that there is no known public exploit or proof of concept available at this time, the urgency for patching remains high, as attackers could develop and deploy exploits rapidly. Organizations should continuously monitor their plugins, especially those that handle sensitive user interactions, and apply security best practices to defend against potential attacks.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to ensure the security of their WordPress installations and protect against potential attacks stemming from this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2025-23435 states that it is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the marcucci Password Protect Plugin for WordPress, which allows for stored XSS. The affected versions range from not applicable (n/a) to version 0.8.1.0. Assigned a CVSS score of 7.1, the vulnerability is classified as high severity. It is categorized under CWE-352, which indicates that it is a CSRF issue.
The CVSS vector string for this vulnerability is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L, indicating that it has a network attack vector, low attack complexity, and does not require any privileges to exploit. User interaction is required for exploitation, which increases the likelihood of successful attacks if users are tricked into performing actions.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the plugin's insufficient validation of requests. By exploiting the CSRF vulnerability, an attacker can send unauthorized requests to the WordPress server, potentially leading to the execution of malicious scripts. The attack vector is network-based, and while the attack complexity is low, it requires user interaction to trigger.
This vulnerability does not require any privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous, as attackers can target any user of the plugin without needing special access. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is classified as low, but the potential for exploitation to lead to more severe issues remains high.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2025-23435 includes the potential for unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of legitimate users, which can lead to data leaks or further exploitation of the website. In the case of stored XSS, attackers could inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the user’s session, potentially affecting all users of the site.
The urgency for organizations to address this vulnerability is high, especially for those operating WordPress sites that employ the affected plugin. The CVSS score of 7.1 indicates that it falls within the high severity range. Organizations should assess their exposure and take immediate action to remediate this vulnerability.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects all versions of the marcucci Password Protect Plugin for WordPress prior to version 0.8.1.0. Organizations should ensure they are running the latest version of the plugin to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to the latest version of the marcucci Password Protect Plugin for WordPress as soon as possible. If immediate patching is not feasible, consider implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) that may help mitigate the risks associated with CSRF attacks. Additionally, organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding to safeguard against XSS.
For detailed guidance on penetration testing and security validation, organizations are encouraged to refer to our penetration testing services which can help identify vulnerabilities in their systems.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual user activities that may indicate unauthorized actions. Look for changes in user sessions and any anomalous requests that deviate from normal patterns. Additionally, organizations should implement alerts for failed login attempts and suspicious behavior.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-23435 represents a significant risk for organizations utilizing the affected WordPress plugin. The low exploitability score suggests that while there may not be widespread active exploitation at this time, the potential for exploitation exists. Security teams should take proactive measures to ensure their environments are secure against such vulnerabilities.
For further insights on vulnerability management, organizations can explore our vulnerability management program design best practices to stay ahead of potential threats.
In addition, organizations should consider integrating security testing methodologies to enhance their overall security posture. For more information on effective testing strategies, refer to our article on penetration testing methodology.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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