Overview
CVE-2025-12406 describes a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability found in the Project Honey Pot Spam Trap plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including 1.0.1. Due to missing or insufficient nonce validation within the printAdminPage() function, an unauthenticated attacker can potentially manipulate the plugin’s settings and inject malicious web scripts. This requires tricking a site administrator into performing an action, such as clicking a malicious link.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from the lack of proper CSRF protection in the printAdminPage() function within the project_honey_pot.php file. Specifically, the code fails to validate a nonce when processing requests to update plugin settings. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious HTTP request that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, can modify the plugin’s configuration. The vulnerable code can be found within the plugin files:
An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to, for example, inject malicious JavaScript code into the plugin’s settings. This injected code could then be executed within the context of the administrator’s browser when they access the WordPress dashboard, potentially leading to account compromise or other malicious activities.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) assigns this vulnerability a score of 6.1 (MEDIUM).
Possible Impact
A successful CSRF attack exploiting CVE-2025-12406 can have several negative consequences:
- Plugin Settings Modification: An attacker can alter the plugin’s configuration, potentially disabling spam protection features or redirecting user traffic.
- Malicious Script Injection: The attacker can inject malicious JavaScript or other web scripts into the plugin settings. These scripts could then execute within the context of the administrator’s browser, leading to:
- Account compromise
- Redirection to phishing sites
- Defacement of the website
- Installation of backdoors
- Website Compromise: Depending on the privileges of the administrator, the attacker could potentially gain full control of the WordPress website.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The primary mitigation is to update the Project Honey Pot Spam Trap plugin to a version that addresses this vulnerability. Check the WordPress plugin repository or the plugin developer’s website for the latest version. If an update is not yet available, consider temporarily disabling the plugin until a patched version is released.
General security best practices can also help mitigate the risk of CSRF attacks:
- Be cautious when clicking on links from untrusted sources.
- Keep your WordPress installation and all plugins up to date.
- Use a strong and unique password for your administrator account.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for your administrator account.
