CVE-2025-10145 in Auto Featured Image Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2025
The Auto Featured Image (Auto Post Thumbnail) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Server-Side Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 4.1.7 via the upload_to_library function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Author-level access and above, to make web requests to arbitrary locations originating from the web application and can be used to query and modify information from internal services. On Cloud instances, this issue allows for metadata retrieval.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2026
The Auto Featured Image plugin for WordPress presents a critical server-side request forgery vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 4.1.7. This flaw resides within the upload_to_library function which processes image uploads and subsequently makes outbound HTTP requests to external services. The vulnerability enables authenticated attackers who possess at least Author-level privileges to initiate arbitrary web requests from the WordPress application server, creating a significant attack surface that can be exploited to access internal network resources. The flaw operates by failing to properly validate or sanitize the URLs used in the upload process, allowing malicious actors to redirect the plugin's outbound requests to internal systems that would otherwise be protected by network segmentation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the plugin's upload functionality. When users upload images through the plugin's interface, the system constructs HTTP requests to external sources for processing or storage purposes. However, the plugin does not adequately filter or validate the destination URLs, permitting attackers to manipulate the request targets. This creates a scenario where an authenticated user can leverage the plugin's legitimate functionality to make requests to internal services that the application server can access but which would normally be protected from external access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer and can be executed through standard WordPress user accounts without requiring special privileges beyond author-level access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system compromise and data manipulation capabilities. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform reconnaissance activities against internal services, potentially discovering additional vulnerable systems or gathering sensitive metadata from cloud instances. The ability to query and modify information from internal services creates opportunities for privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised networks. On cloud deployments, the vulnerability specifically enables metadata retrieval attacks that can expose sensitive configuration data, credentials, or system information that should remain isolated from external access. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in cloud environments where metadata servers contain critical infrastructure information that attackers can exploit to gain deeper access to cloud resources.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which describes server-side request forgery vulnerabilities that enable attackers to make arbitrary requests from a vulnerable server. This weakness falls under the broader category of insecure direct object references and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol evasion and T1082 for system information discovery. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected installations to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers who have gained access to any author-level account. Additionally, implementing network segmentation controls and monitoring outbound requests from WordPress servers can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The recommended mitigation includes upgrading to the latest plugin version where this vulnerability has been addressed, implementing proper input validation controls, and restricting unnecessary outbound connectivity from the application server to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.