CVE-2025-26550: High Vulnerability in Kunal Shivale Global Meta Keyword & Description

On February 13, 2025, a critical Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability was identified in the Kunal Shivale Global Meta Keyword & Description plugin. This vulnerability allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), impacting versions up to 2.3 and posing significant risks to web applications that rely on this plugin.

With a CVSS score of 7.1, classified as high severity, the vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a user's session. This could lead to unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of the user, increasing the potential for data theft or manipulation.

Risk to organizations includes the possibility of serious breaches, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to steal sensitive information or manipulate site content. As such, organizations utilizing the affected plugin should prioritize immediate remediation.

The urgency for defenders cannot be overstated, as the exploitability score is rated high. Organizations are advised to assess their exposure and implement necessary patches without delay.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability described as Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) allows Stored XSS in the Kunal Shivale Global Meta Keyword & Description plugin. Specifically, this issue affects versions up to 2.3. The CVSS score of 7.1 indicates a high severity level, suggesting that the impact could be significant in the event of an exploit.

The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-352, which relates to CSRF attacks. The attack vector is classified as network-based, and it requires low complexity with no privileges needed for exploitation. User interaction is required, indicating that an attacker must trick a user into performing an action that exploits the vulnerability.

The vulnerability was published on February 13, 2025, and its status is currently marked as deferred. This classification indicates that while the vulnerability is acknowledged, it may not have been fully addressed or resolved.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of requests, which allows for CSRF attacks. As a result, attackers can craft malicious requests that exploit the application's trust in the user's session. The attack complexity is assessed as low, meaning that it does not require sophisticated techniques to exploit.

Since no privileges are required, any user can potentially trigger the exploit. Furthermore, user interaction is mandatory, meaning that the attacker must convince the user to execute the malicious request. This may involve phishing tactics or social engineering.

The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, albeit at a low level. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can access user data, modify information, or disrupt normal operations, albeit without causing catastrophic damage.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Real-world deployment risks associated with this vulnerability are significant. Given the wide use of WordPress plugins, organizations utilizing the Kunal Shivale Global Meta Keyword & Description plugin are at risk of being targeted by attackers exploiting this vulnerability.

This matters to organizations as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, and loss of reputation. The potential blast radius is considerable, particularly for sites that handle sensitive user data or have a customer-facing presence.

Organizations should assess their patching processes and prioritize this vulnerability based on its CVSS score of 7.1. The KEV status indicates it is not actively exploited, but the potential for exploitation still warrants immediate attention.

Affected Versions

The affected versions of the Kunal Shivale Global Meta Keyword & Description plugin are from n/a through 2.3. Organizations using these versions should take immediate action to assess and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.

Mitigation & Remediation

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-26550, organizations should update their Kunal Shivale Global Meta Keyword & Description plugin to the latest version. If a patch is unavailable, organizations should consider disabling the plugin until it can be updated.

Further, implementing proper security controls such as CSRF tokens can help prevent this type of attack. Organizations are encouraged to conduct regular security assessments and consider engaging in penetration testing to validate the effectiveness of their security measures.

Detection Guidance

To detect any exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor their application logs for unusual activity related to user sessions. Behavioral anomalies such as unexpected changes in user data or unauthorized actions should be flagged for review.

Additionally, network signatures related to CSRF attacks should be implemented, and any system changes should be logged and monitored to detect potential exploitation attempts.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The long-term significance of CVE-2025-26550 lies in its demonstration of the ongoing vulnerabilities present in widely used plugins. Security teams should recognize the patterns of CSRF vulnerabilities and the potential impact of Stored XSS attacks.

This vulnerability serves as a reminder for continuous improvement in security practices, particularly in the context of third-party software dependencies. Organizations must prioritize regular updates and security reviews to maintain a robust security posture.

For additional resources on mitigating similar vulnerabilities, organizations can refer to the vulnerability management program that outlines best practices for addressing such issues in a timely manner.

Organizations should also consider following the guidelines provided in the penetration testing methodology to ensure a comprehensive understanding of vulnerabilities and their remediation.