CVE-2025-14391 in Simple Theme Changer
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2025
The Simple Theme Changer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 1.0. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update the plugin's settings via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2025
The Simple Theme Changer plugin for WordPress presents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-14391 affecting versions up to and including 1.0. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper nonce validation mechanisms within the plugin's administrative functions, creating a significant security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the plugin's configuration settings through carefully crafted forged requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress administration interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's failure to validate cryptographic nonces during critical administrative operations. Nonces serve as time-limited tokens that ensure user actions originate from legitimate sources within WordPress's security framework. Without proper nonce validation, an attacker can construct malicious requests that bypass the standard authentication checks typically required for administrative modifications. This weakness aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it provides attackers with potential access to theme customization settings that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. When an administrator clicks on a malicious link or visits a compromised website, the forged request can execute with the administrator's privileges, potentially allowing attackers to modify theme settings, inject malicious code, or alter the site's appearance in ways that could facilitate further exploitation. This scenario represents a classic social engineering attack vector that exploits human factors rather than technical vulnerabilities.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a prime example of how seemingly minor implementation oversights can create significant security risks within content management systems. The attack surface becomes particularly dangerous when considering that administrators often visit numerous websites and may inadvertently click on malicious links. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics including the use of malicious links to gain unauthorized access to systems. Organizations should immediately implement patch management protocols to upgrade to versions that properly validate nonces, while also conducting security awareness training to help administrators recognize potential social engineering attempts.
The remediation process requires immediate deployment of the latest plugin version that includes proper nonce validation mechanisms, typically implemented through WordPress's built-in wp_verify_nonce() function. Additionally, administrators should review their plugin ecosystem for similar vulnerabilities and consider implementing additional security measures such as two-factor authentication and regular security audits. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following security best practices in plugin development, including the mandatory inclusion of nonce validation for all administrative operations to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system settings.