CVE-2025-14999 identifies a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Latest Tabs WordPress plugin developed by kentothemes, affecting all versions up to and including 1.5. The vulnerability stems from missing or incorrect nonce validation in the settings update handler located in the admin-page.php file. Nonces in WordPress are security tokens used to verify that requests to change settings originate from legitimate users and not from forged requests. Because this validation is absent or improperly implemented, an attacker can craft a malicious request that, when executed by an authenticated administrator (for example, by clicking a specially crafted link), causes unauthorized modification of the plugin’s settings. This attack vector does not require the attacker to be authenticated or have privileges on the site, but it does require user interaction from an administrator, making social engineering or phishing a likely exploitation method. The vulnerability impacts the integrity of the plugin’s configuration but does not affect confidentiality or availability. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 reflects these factors: network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and limited impact on integrity only. No public exploits have been reported so far, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may currently rely on workarounds or upcoming updates. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe and the popularity of plugins like Latest Tabs for content display, this vulnerability presents a moderate risk to site administrators who may be targeted through phishing campaigns or malicious websites. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could alter plugin settings to degrade site functionality, insert malicious content, or facilitate further attacks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the integrity of WordPress sites using the Latest Tabs plugin. Unauthorized changes to plugin settings could disrupt website functionality, degrade user experience, or open pathways for additional attacks such as injecting malicious scripts or redirecting users. Since WordPress powers a significant portion of websites in Europe, including many small and medium enterprises, government portals, and e-commerce platforms, exploitation could lead to reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential regulatory scrutiny under GDPR if user data is indirectly affected. The requirement for administrator interaction means that organizations with strong security awareness and phishing defenses may be less impacted, but those with less mature security postures or high administrator exposure to phishing remain vulnerable. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits rapidly after disclosure. The impact is more pronounced in sectors relying heavily on WordPress for public-facing content, such as media, education, and retail, which are prevalent across European countries.

1. Monitor for and apply official patches or updates from kentothemes as soon as they become available to ensure nonce validation is correctly implemented. 2. Until patches are released, implement manual nonce validation in the plugin’s admin-page.php or disable the Latest Tabs plugin if feasible. 3. Restrict administrator access to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication methods such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of compromised admin accounts. 4. Conduct targeted security awareness training for administrators focusing on phishing and social engineering tactics to prevent inadvertent clicks on malicious links. 5. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious POST requests to the plugin’s settings endpoint. 6. Regularly audit plugin configurations and monitor logs for unusual changes or access patterns. 7. Consider isolating critical WordPress administration interfaces behind VPNs or IP whitelisting to limit exposure. 8. Maintain regular backups of website data and configurations to enable quick restoration if unauthorized changes occur.