CVE-2025-9880 in Side Slide Responsive Menu Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/12/2025
The Side Slide Responsive Menu plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 1.0. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on a function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update settings and inject malicious web scripts 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 • 09/12/2025
The Side Slide Responsive Menu plugin for WordPress presents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 1.0. This vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the plugin's implementation, specifically the absence or improper validation of nonce tokens in critical administrative functions. The flaw creates a pathway for unauthenticated attackers to manipulate plugin settings and potentially inject malicious web scripts into the target WordPress installation. The vulnerability operates under the principle that attackers can craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system, exploiting the trust relationship between the administrator's browser and the vulnerable plugin.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a security weakness that occurs when a web application fails to validate that requests originate from the authenticated user. In this case, the plugin's failure to implement proper nonce validation creates a scenario where attackers can forge requests that bypass standard authentication mechanisms. The absence of nonce verification means that any request sent to the vulnerable plugin endpoint can be executed without proper authorization, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only social engineering tactics to exploit. Attackers can construct malicious links or web pages that, when clicked by an authenticated administrator, will execute unintended actions within the context of the administrator's session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with the ability to modify critical plugin settings and inject arbitrary web scripts into the target environment. This could enable attackers to redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or even install additional malware through the compromised plugin interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative interface of WordPress, potentially allowing attackers to gain persistent access to the compromised site. The fact that this affects all versions up to 1.0 suggests a fundamental flaw in the plugin's security design that has remained unaddressed, indicating poor security practices during development and testing phases.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows ATT&CK technique T1566.002, which describes social engineering attacks that involve tricking users into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting deceptive emails or messages that direct administrators to malicious websites containing embedded requests that modify plugin settings. The attack vector requires minimal technical skill from the attacker while potentially providing maximum impact, as administrators often trust links from known sources and may not notice subtle malicious activity within their administrative sessions. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrators may be less vigilant about suspicious links or where multiple administrators have access to the same systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the nonce validation issue, though users should verify that updates are available and properly tested before deployment. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual patterns in plugin access requests and consider implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls that can detect and block CSRF attempts. Regular security audits of installed plugins should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other third-party components. Additionally, administrators should be trained to recognize potential social engineering attempts and implement strict verification procedures before clicking on external links, particularly those that might interact with administrative interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security testing during plugin development and the necessity of implementing robust validation mechanisms for all administrative functions within WordPress plugins.