CVE-2025-5932 in Homerunner Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/26/2025
The Homerunner plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.29. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the main_settings() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update plugin 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 • 07/07/2025
The CVE-2025-5932 vulnerability affects the Homerunner plugin for WordPress, representing a critical cross-site request forgery weakness that compromises plugin security. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.0.29, making it a widespread concern for WordPress site administrators who rely on this plugin for their website functionality. The flaw stems from inadequate nonce validation mechanisms within the plugin's main_settings() function, which serves as the primary entry point for administrative configuration changes. Nonce validation represents a fundamental security measure designed to prevent unauthorized requests from being processed, and its absence or improper implementation creates a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate plugin settings through forged HTTP requests without requiring valid authentication credentials or administrative privileges. This type of attack leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, specifically targeting the administrator's browser session to execute unauthorized actions. The exploitation requires social engineering tactics where attackers must trick administrators into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. This approach aligns with the common pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under T1566 for initial access through social engineering, and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage in web-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, potentially allowing attackers to modify critical plugin behaviors that could affect website performance, security posture, or even provide backdoor access to the site. Plugin settings modifications could include changing authentication parameters, altering security configurations, or enabling features that expose the site to additional risks. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a fundamental design flaw in the plugin's security implementation rather than a temporary coding error, suggesting that administrators who have not updated to newer versions remain at risk. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery conditions in software applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate plugin updates to the latest available version where the nonce validation has been properly implemented and tested. Site administrators must also implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes, implementing web application firewalls that can detect suspicious request patterns, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The WordPress security community should be alerted to this vulnerability through appropriate channels, and administrators should consider temporarily disabling the plugin if immediate updates are not feasible. Network-level protections such as browser security policies and content security policies can provide additional defense in depth, while regular security training for administrators helps reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that exploit this vulnerability.