CVE-2025-22260 in Meta Tag Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/03/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Pixelite Meta Tag Manager. This issue affects Meta Tag Manager: from n/a through 3.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The CVE-2025-22260 vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw within the Pixelite Meta Tag Manager plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through version 3.1. This missing authorization issue fundamentally undermines the security controls that should govern access to administrative functions within the plugin. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's permission validation mechanisms, where proper authorization checks are either absent or inadequately implemented, allowing unauthorized users to potentially access restricted administrative features.
This technical flaw manifests as a failure in the plugin's access control implementation, where legitimate authorization checks that should verify user credentials and privileges before granting access to sensitive operations are either completely missing or bypassed. The vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authorization as classified by CWE-863, which specifically addresses situations where software fails to properly enforce access control mechanisms. The absence of proper authorization validation creates a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and perform administrative actions without proper authentication, directly violating fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates potential for complete administrative compromise of affected systems. Attackers who can exploit this vulnerability may gain the ability to modify meta tags, manipulate plugin configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised administrative interface as a foothold for further attacks within the affected WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects WordPress sites using the Meta Tag Manager plugin, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of WordPress and the plugin's role in managing website metadata and tracking parameters that could be leveraged for malicious purposes.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1078 technique for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as unauthorized access through missing authorization controls can provide attackers with legitimate administrative access to perform further reconnaissance and lateral movement. The vulnerability also relates to T1003 for Credential Access, as it may enable attackers to extract sensitive configuration information or manipulate user accounts through the compromised administrative interface. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of the plugin, reviewing user permissions, and monitoring for unauthorized administrative activities.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize the immediate upgrade to the patched version of the Meta Tag Manager plugin, as this represents the most effective resolution for the missing authorization flaw. Additionally, administrators should implement proper access control measures including role-based access controls, regular permission reviews, and monitoring of administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authorization implementation and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of access control mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and regular security audits to prevent similar authorization bypass issues from occurring in other components of their web applications.