CVE-2025-49353 identifies a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the 'Noindex by Path' plugin developed by Marcin Kijak, which is used to manage indexing behavior on websites. The vulnerability allows an attacker to craft malicious requests that, when executed by an authenticated user, can trigger unauthorized actions within the plugin. This CSRF flaw leads to stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), meaning that malicious scripts can be injected and persist on the affected site, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing sensitive data, or defacing web content. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring privileges but does require user interaction, such as clicking a crafted link. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 reflects a high severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all rated low to medium, but the stored XSS aspect elevates the risk. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published at the end of 2025, indicating a recent disclosure. The plugin’s role in controlling indexing paths means that exploitation could affect SEO and content visibility, alongside security risks. Organizations using this plugin should be aware of the potential for persistent XSS and unauthorized actions triggered via CSRF.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to websites using the 'Noindex by Path' plugin, particularly those relying on it for SEO management and content indexing control. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized changes in site behavior, persistent XSS attacks that compromise user data and session integrity, and potential defacement or manipulation of web content. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and disrupt web services. Given the plugin’s function, attackers might also manipulate search engine indexing, impacting business visibility online. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to trigger attacks. The absence of patches increases exposure time. Organizations in sectors with high regulatory scrutiny, such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, face additional compliance risks if user data is compromised. The impact on availability and integrity, while rated low to medium, can still disrupt critical web operations and user trust.

1. Immediately audit and identify all instances of the 'Noindex by Path' plugin within your web infrastructure. 2. Until a patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin to eliminate exposure. 3. Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate the impact of stored XSS by restricting script execution sources. 4. Employ web application firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block CSRF attack patterns and suspicious POST requests targeting the plugin’s endpoints. 5. Educate users and administrators about phishing risks and the dangers of clicking unsolicited links that could trigger CSRF attacks. 6. Monitor web logs for unusual activities or unauthorized changes related to the plugin. 7. Once available, promptly apply vendor patches or updates addressing the vulnerability. 8. Review and enhance CSRF protections across all web applications, ensuring anti-CSRF tokens are implemented and validated. 9. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on web application vulnerabilities including CSRF and XSS. 10. Limit plugin administrative access to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms.