CVE-2025-12413 identifies a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Social Media WPCF7 Stop Words plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.1.3. The vulnerability stems from the smWpCfSwOptions() function lacking proper nonce validation, which is a security token mechanism designed to prevent unauthorized commands from being executed. Without this validation, an attacker can craft a malicious request that, if an authenticated site administrator is tricked into clicking (e.g., via a phishing email or malicious website), will be executed with the administrator's privileges. This can lead to unauthorized changes in the plugin's settings and the injection of malicious web scripts, potentially enabling further attacks such as persistent cross-site scripting (XSS) or site defacement. The vulnerability does not require the attacker to be authenticated but does require user interaction from a privileged user. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4, reflecting a medium severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction necessary. No patches or exploit code are currently publicly available, and no known active exploitation has been reported. The plugin is used in WordPress environments, which are widely deployed across many organizations, including those in Europe. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper nonce implementation in WordPress plugins to prevent CSRF attacks that can compromise site integrity and availability.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to websites running WordPress with the Social Media WPCF7 Stop Words plugin installed. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to alter plugin settings and inject malicious scripts, potentially leading to website defacement, unauthorized content changes, or further exploitation such as persistent XSS attacks. This can damage organizational reputation, disrupt web services, and expose visitors to malware or phishing. Since the attack requires an administrator to be tricked into clicking a malicious link, organizations with less stringent administrative access controls or lower user awareness are more vulnerable. The impact on confidentiality is minimal as no direct data leakage is indicated, but integrity and availability of the website can be compromised. For e-commerce, government, or critical service websites, such disruptions could have significant operational and financial consequences. Additionally, compromised websites can be used as platforms for broader attacks, increasing the threat landscape. The medium severity suggests a moderate risk level, but the widespread use of WordPress in Europe means the potential attack surface is large.

Organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify if the Social Media WPCF7 Stop Words plugin is in use and its version. Until an official patch is released, administrators should consider disabling or removing the plugin to eliminate the attack vector. Implementing strict nonce validation in the plugin code is essential; developers or site maintainers can manually patch the smWpCfSwOptions() function to verify nonces before processing requests. Enhancing administrative access controls by limiting admin privileges to trusted users and enforcing multi-factor authentication reduces the risk of successful exploitation. User education campaigns should inform administrators about the dangers of clicking unsolicited links, especially when logged into administrative accounts. Web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious POST requests targeting the plugin’s endpoints. Monitoring website logs for unusual changes in plugin settings or unexpected POST requests can help detect attempted exploits. Finally, maintain regular backups of website data and configurations to enable quick recovery if compromise occurs.