CVE-2025-14999 identifies a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Latest Tabs plugin for WordPress, developed by kentothemes. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.5 due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the settings update handler located in admin-page.php. Nonces are security tokens used to verify that requests to change settings originate from legitimate users and not from malicious third parties. Without proper nonce validation, an attacker can craft a malicious link or webpage that, when visited by a logged-in WordPress administrator, causes the plugin settings to be modified without the administrator's consent. This attack vector requires no authentication on the attacker’s part but does require user interaction (clicking a link). The impact is limited to integrity, as attackers can alter plugin settings, potentially changing site behavior or enabling further attacks, but it does not directly expose confidential data or cause denial of service. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed, and limited impact on integrity only. No patches or exploits are currently known, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The vulnerability affects a widely used WordPress plugin, increasing the risk for websites relying on it for tabbed content display.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the integrity of WordPress sites using the Latest Tabs plugin. Unauthorized modification of plugin settings could lead to altered site content, misconfiguration, or enablement of further malicious activities such as injecting malicious scripts or redirecting users. While it does not directly compromise data confidentiality or availability, the integrity breach can undermine trust in affected websites, potentially damaging brand reputation and user confidence. Organizations with public-facing WordPress sites, especially those with administrators who may be targeted by phishing or social engineering, are at risk. This is particularly relevant for sectors with high web presence such as e-commerce, media, and government portals. The ease of exploitation via social engineering increases the threat surface. Additionally, compromised plugin settings could be leveraged as a foothold for more severe attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.

1. Monitor for and apply official patches or updates from kentothemes as soon as they are released to address the nonce validation issue. 2. In the absence of an immediate patch, implement manual nonce validation in the plugin’s settings update handler by modifying admin-page.php to verify nonces correctly before processing requests. 3. Restrict administrative access to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of compromised admin accounts. 4. Educate WordPress administrators about phishing and social engineering risks, emphasizing caution when clicking links, especially those received via email or untrusted sources. 5. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious CSRF attempts targeting the plugin’s admin endpoints. 6. Regularly audit plugin settings and WordPress logs for unauthorized changes or suspicious activity. 7. Consider limiting plugin usage or replacing it with alternatives that follow secure coding practices if timely patching is not feasible.