CVE-2025-5019 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting the Hive Support | AI-Powered Help Desk, Live Chat & AI Chat Bot Plugin for WordPress, specifically all versions up to and including 1.2.2. The vulnerability arises due to missing or incorrect nonce validation in the hs_update_ai_chat_settings() function. Nonces are security tokens used in WordPress to verify that requests are intentional and originate from authorized users. The absence or improper implementation of nonce validation allows an unauthenticated attacker to craft malicious requests that, when executed by an authenticated site administrator (via user interaction such as clicking a link), can modify the plugin’s AI/chat settings. This includes altering API keys, redirecting notifications, or leaking sensitive data to attacker-controlled endpoints. The vulnerability does not require prior authentication but does require user interaction, specifically tricking an administrator into performing an action. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary. The impact affects confidentiality and integrity, with no direct availability impact. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of now. The vulnerability is significant because it targets configuration settings that could compromise the confidentiality of communications and data handled by the AI chat and help desk plugin, potentially enabling attackers to intercept or manipulate sensitive customer support interactions or data flows. Given the plugin’s role in customer support and live chat, exploitation could lead to data leakage, unauthorized data redirection, and loss of trust in the affected websites.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality and integrity of customer support communications and data managed through the Hive Support plugin. Organizations relying on this plugin for AI-powered help desk and live chat services could face unauthorized disclosure of sensitive customer information or internal communications if attackers successfully manipulate plugin settings. This could lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR, especially if personal data is leaked or redirected to unauthorized endpoints. The integrity of AI/chat configurations being compromised may also disrupt customer service operations, potentially damaging brand reputation and customer trust. Since the attack requires tricking an administrator, organizations with less stringent user awareness or lacking multi-factor authentication on admin accounts are at higher risk. The medium severity score suggests a moderate threat level, but the potential for data leakage and operational disruption makes timely mitigation important. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as public disclosure may prompt attackers to develop exploits.

1. Immediate update or patching: Organizations should upgrade the Hive Support plugin to a version where this vulnerability is fixed once available. If no patch exists yet, consider temporarily disabling the plugin or restricting its use. 2. Implement strict admin access controls: Limit administrator privileges to trusted personnel only and enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of compromised admin accounts. 3. User awareness training: Educate administrators about the risks of CSRF and phishing attacks, emphasizing caution when clicking on unsolicited links or performing administrative actions. 4. Web application firewall (WAF) rules: Deploy WAF rules to detect and block suspicious requests that attempt to exploit CSRF vulnerabilities targeting the plugin’s endpoints. 5. Monitor plugin configuration changes: Implement logging and alerting for any changes to AI/chat settings or API keys within the plugin to detect unauthorized modifications promptly. 6. Nonce validation audit: For organizations with development resources, review and enhance nonce validation mechanisms in custom or third-party plugins to prevent similar vulnerabilities. 7. Network segmentation and endpoint security: Restrict outbound traffic from web servers to prevent unauthorized data exfiltration to attacker-controlled endpoints.