CVE-2025-28913 in WP Add Active Class to Menu Item Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/12/2025
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Aftab Ali Muni WP Add Active Class To Menu Item allows Cross Site Request Forgery. This issue affects WP Add Active Class To Menu Item: from n/a through 1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
The CVE-2025-28913 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the WP Add Active Class To Menu Item plugin developed by Aftab Ali Muni. This vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through version 1.0, making all installations within this range susceptible to exploitation. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF measures when processing administrative requests, creating a significant security risk for WordPress sites that utilize this specific plugin. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users who visit compromised web pages, potentially leading to complete administrative control over affected WordPress installations.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs due to the absence of proper request validation mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interfaces. When administrators interact with the plugin's settings or perform administrative tasks, the system fails to verify the authenticity of requests through the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or similar protective measures. This flaw aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities where the application does not adequately validate the source of HTTP requests. The vulnerability operates by tricking authenticated users into executing unwanted actions without their knowledge, exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and the user's browser. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities in other parts of the website to initiate unauthorized requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress administration system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, potentially enabling complete compromise of affected WordPress installations. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability could modify menu item configurations, potentially redirecting users to malicious websites or injecting harmful code into the navigation structure. This could lead to further exploitation opportunities such as credential theft, data exfiltration, or the installation of backdoors. The vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites where administrators frequently access the plugin's administrative interface, as the attack vector requires the administrator to visit a malicious page while authenticated. This makes the vulnerability especially dangerous in environments where administrators have high privileges and access to critical system functions. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can deliver malicious payloads through compromised websites that trigger the CSRF attack when administrators visit them.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-28913 should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF implementation flaws, though the vulnerability affects versions through 1.0, suggesting that no patched version may currently exist. Organizations should implement additional protective measures including network-level restrictions on plugin access, monitoring for unauthorized administrative changes, and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. The WordPress security community should be alerted to this vulnerability through appropriate channels to prevent widespread exploitation. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all installed plugins to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities and ensure that proper anti-CSRF token implementation is enforced across all administrative interfaces. Regular security assessments should include verification of CSRF protection mechanisms in custom plugins and themes, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper request validation in all administrative functions. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of adhering to security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards to prevent similar issues in future plugin development.