CVE-2025-67591 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability identified in the JNews Paywall plugin developed by jegtheme, affecting all versions prior to 12.0.1. CSRF vulnerabilities occur when an attacker tricks an authenticated user into submitting unauthorized requests to a web application, exploiting the user's active session and privileges. In this case, the vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions on the paywall system, such as altering subscription settings, bypassing paywall restrictions, or modifying user entitlements. The vulnerability arises due to the absence or improper implementation of anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms in the plugin's request handling. Although no public exploits have been reported, the vulnerability is significant because paywall systems directly impact revenue streams for digital content providers. The plugin is commonly used in WordPress environments, which are widely deployed across media and publishing sectors. The lack of a CVSS score necessitates an independent severity assessment, considering the potential for unauthorized changes that could disrupt service availability or compromise the integrity of paywall enforcement. The vulnerability requires authenticated user interaction, typically via social engineering or malicious links, to trigger the exploit. The patch addressing this issue is included in version 12.0.1 of the plugin, but no direct patch links are currently provided. Organizations relying on this plugin should prioritize updating and consider additional CSRF mitigation strategies.

For European organizations, especially those in the digital media, publishing, and subscription-based content sectors, exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability could lead to unauthorized manipulation of paywall configurations. This may result in revenue loss due to unauthorized access to premium content or disruption of subscription services. The integrity of subscription data could be compromised, leading to billing errors or unauthorized content access. Availability of paywall services might also be affected if attackers alter critical settings. Such incidents could damage customer trust and brand reputation. Given the widespread use of WordPress and associated plugins in Europe, the threat surface is significant. Organizations with less mature security practices or delayed patch management are at higher risk. The vulnerability does not appear to expose confidential user data directly but could indirectly affect confidentiality if paywall bypass leads to unauthorized content access. The lack of known exploits provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the ease of exploitation via social engineering increases risk.

The primary mitigation is to update the JNews Paywall plugin to version 12.0.1 or later, where the CSRF vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should verify that all instances of the plugin across their environments are patched promptly. In addition, implement robust anti-CSRF tokens and validation in all forms and state-changing requests within the paywall system. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the origins from which requests can be made. Conduct user awareness training to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could trigger CSRF exploits. Monitor logs for unusual or unauthorized changes to paywall configurations. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block CSRF attack patterns. Regularly audit plugin and WordPress security configurations to ensure adherence to best practices. Finally, maintain an incident response plan tailored to web application vulnerabilities to quickly address any exploitation attempts.