CVE-2025-2935 in Anti-Spam Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2025
The Anti-Spam: Spam Protection | Block Spam Users, Comments, Forms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 2024.7. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation in the 'ss_option_maint.php' and 'ss_user_filter_list' files. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete pending comments, and re-enable a previously blocked user 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 • 06/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-2935 affects the Anti-Spam: Spam Protection | Block Spam Users, Comments, Forms plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2024.7. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of spam protection mechanisms within WordPress environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of cryptographic nonces in two key files: ss_option_maint.php and ss_user_filter_list, which are essential components for managing spam filtering operations and user access controls. The absence of proper nonce verification creates a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the plugin's functionality without proper authentication. This issue is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211, which involves exploiting weaknesses in authentication mechanisms to perform unauthorized actions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables unauthenticated attackers to execute malicious actions through forged requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress administration interface. When an administrator performs actions such as clicking on a malicious link or visiting a compromised webpage, the forged request can trigger unintended operations within the spam protection plugin. Attackers can leverage this weakness to delete pending comments that would normally be filtered or blocked, effectively bypassing the spam protection measures that are meant to safeguard the website's content. Additionally, the vulnerability allows attackers to re-enable users who have been previously blocked, potentially restoring access to accounts that were identified as spam sources or malicious actors. The operational impact extends beyond simple content manipulation, as it can compromise the overall security posture of the WordPress site by undermining the spam filtering system that protects against automated attacks and malicious content injection.
The security implications of CVE-2025-2935 are significant for WordPress administrators who rely on this plugin for spam protection. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited without requiring any authentication credentials or advanced technical skills from the attacker. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators might be tricked into clicking malicious links through social engineering attacks or compromised websites. The attack surface is expanded because the vulnerability affects core administrative functions within the spam protection plugin, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt legitimate user interactions and content management processes. Organizations using this plugin should consider the broader implications for their content management systems and the potential for cascading security issues that could affect other components of their WordPress infrastructure. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the plugin's design that requires immediate attention and remediation to prevent exploitation. Mitigation strategies should include immediate plugin updates to versions that implement proper nonce validation, along with enhanced monitoring of administrator activities and user access controls to detect potential unauthorized modifications to spam filtering configurations.