The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-67591 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) issue in the jegtheme JNews Paywall plugin, which is used to manage paywall functionality on WordPress sites. CSRF vulnerabilities occur when an attacker tricks an authenticated user into submitting a forged HTTP request, causing the user’s browser to perform unwanted actions on a web application where they are logged in. In this case, the vulnerability affects all versions of JNews Paywall prior to 12.0.1. The plugin fails to implement adequate anti-CSRF tokens or other protections, allowing attackers to craft malicious links or web pages that, when visited by an authenticated user, can trigger unauthorized actions such as changing paywall settings or user entitlements. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.3 reflects that the attack vector is network-based (remote), requires no privileges, but does require user interaction (clicking a malicious link). The impact is limited to confidentiality, with no direct effect on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The lack of patch links suggests that a fix may be forthcoming or that users should upgrade to version 12.0.1 or later once available.

For European organizations, the primary risk is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive paywall configuration or user data due to forced actions executed via CSRF. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise data integrity or system availability, it can lead to privacy breaches or unauthorized access to premium content, potentially causing financial loss or reputational damage. Media companies, publishers, and subscription-based services using JNews Paywall in Europe could see exploitation attempts, especially if users with administrative privileges are targeted. The attack requires user interaction but no authentication, meaning even non-privileged users could be manipulated to perform actions on behalf of privileged users if session cookies are accessible. This risk is heightened in environments where users frequently access administrative interfaces without strict session management or where phishing attacks are common. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits following public disclosure.

European organizations should immediately verify their JNews Paywall plugin version and upgrade to version 12.0.1 or later once it becomes available, as this version addresses the CSRF vulnerability. Until the patch is applied, administrators should implement additional CSRF protections at the web server or application firewall level, such as enforcing same-site cookies and validating the Origin and Referer headers for sensitive requests. Employing Content Security Policy (CSP) can help reduce the risk of malicious cross-site requests. User education to recognize phishing attempts and avoid clicking suspicious links is critical, especially for users with administrative privileges. Regularly auditing user sessions and limiting session lifetimes can reduce the window of opportunity for exploitation. Monitoring web server logs for unusual POST requests or unexpected changes in paywall settings can help detect attempted exploitation. Finally, organizations should maintain an inventory of all WordPress plugins and ensure timely updates to reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities.