CVE-2026-1393 in Add Google Social Profiles to Knowledge Graph Box Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2026
The Add Google Social Profiles to Knowledge Graph Box plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in all versions up to, and including, 1.0. This is due to missing nonce validation on the settings update functionality. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to update the plugin's Knowledge Graph 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 • 03/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-1393 affects the Add Google Social Profiles to Knowledge Graph Box plugin for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that compromises the integrity of plugin configurations. This issue exists in all versions up to and including version 1.0, making it a persistent threat across the entire release history of this particular plugin. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the plugin's settings update functionality, which creates an exploitable gap in the security architecture that could be leveraged by malicious actors to manipulate core plugin configurations without proper authentication.
The technical flaw manifests through the complete absence of nonce validation during the settings update process, which is a fundamental security measure designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to plugin configurations. Nonce validation serves as a cryptographic token that ensures requests originate from legitimate administrative users and not from forged requests. This particular plugin fails to implement proper nonce verification, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators. The vulnerability operates under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software applications where proper validation mechanisms are absent or improperly implemented.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it allows unauthenticated attackers to modify critical Knowledge Graph settings that could affect how a website presents social profile information to search engines and users. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially redirect social profile data, alter content presentation, or manipulate how Google Knowledge Graph displays information about the website. This manipulation could lead to decreased search engine visibility, potential security implications from false social profile information, and overall degradation of the website's online presence and credibility.
The attack vector for this vulnerability relies on social engineering techniques that trick administrators into performing actions that trigger the malicious request. Attackers typically employ methods such as phishing emails containing malicious links or compromised website content that, when clicked by administrators, automatically submit forged requests to the vulnerable plugin settings. This approach aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1566, which describes social engineering tactics used to gain initial access or execute malicious actions through human interaction. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill from attackers, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by threat actors with limited advanced capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that include proper nonce validation mechanisms. Site administrators must ensure they upgrade to the latest available version of the plugin that addresses this specific security flaw. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and user permission management can help reduce the risk of unauthorized configuration changes. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual patterns in plugin configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security hardening measures including regular security audits, implementation of web application firewalls, and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all WordPress installations will provide comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future. The affected plugin developers should implement proper security testing procedures including security code reviews and penetration testing to prevent such issues from occurring in future releases.