CVE-2025-12452 identifies a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the bestiadurmiente Visit Counter plugin for WordPress, specifically version 1.0. The vulnerability stems from missing or incorrect nonce validation on the widgets.php page, which is responsible for handling widget-related settings. Nonces in WordPress are security tokens used to verify that requests originate from legitimate users and not from forged sources. The absence or improper implementation of nonce validation allows an attacker to craft malicious requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator (e.g., via clicking a malicious link), can update plugin settings or inject malicious web scripts. This attack does not require the attacker to be authenticated but does require user interaction from an administrator, making social engineering a key component. The vulnerability affects confidentiality and integrity by enabling unauthorized changes and potential script injection, but it does not impact availability. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.1 (medium), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and a scope change due to affecting resources beyond the vulnerable component. No patches or known exploits are currently reported, but the risk remains significant for sites using this plugin without mitigation.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the bestiadurmiente Visit Counter plugin installed. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized modification of plugin settings and injection of malicious scripts, potentially enabling further attacks such as cross-site scripting (XSS), session hijacking, or redirection to malicious sites. This compromises the confidentiality and integrity of the affected websites and their users. Organizations in sectors with high regulatory scrutiny (e.g., finance, healthcare, government) could face compliance issues if customer or user data is exposed or manipulated. Additionally, reputational damage and operational disruptions could result from compromised websites. Since exploitation requires tricking an administrator, targeted phishing campaigns could be used against European organizations, increasing the risk. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests a window of opportunity for proactive defense.

1. Immediately audit WordPress sites for the presence of the bestiadurmiente Visit Counter plugin version 1.0 and disable or remove it if not essential. 2. Apply any available patches or updates from the vendor once released; if no patch exists, consider replacing the plugin with a secure alternative. 3. Implement strict administrative access controls, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) for WordPress administrators to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 4. Educate administrators about phishing and social engineering risks, emphasizing caution when clicking links, especially from untrusted sources. 5. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious CSRF attempts targeting the widgets.php endpoint. 6. Monitor logs for unusual administrative actions or changes to plugin settings that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Consider adding additional nonce validation or custom CSRF protections if maintaining the plugin internally. 8. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable recovery in case of compromise.