Overview
A critical vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-13386, has been discovered in the Social Images Widget plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to potentially delete the plugin’s settings by exploiting a missing capability check. This poses a significant security risk, especially for websites relying on this plugin for displaying social media images.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from a missing capability check on the options_update function within the class-social-images-widget-settings.php file. This means that versions up to and including 2.1 of the Social Images Widget plugin do not properly verify if a user has the necessary permissions to modify the plugin’s settings. As a result, an attacker can craft a malicious request that, if triggered by an administrator (e.g., by clicking a specially crafted link), can lead to the deletion of the plugin’s settings.
Relevant code snippets can be found at:
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) assigns a score of 5.3 to CVE-2025-13386, indicating a MEDIUM severity vulnerability. The CVSS vector string provides a more detailed breakdown of the vulnerability’s characteristics.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-13386 can have the following consequences:
- Deletion of Plugin Settings: An attacker can successfully delete the plugin’s configuration, potentially disrupting the website’s functionality related to social media image display.
- Phishing Attacks: Attackers can use this vulnerability as a stepping stone to initiate more complex attacks, such as phishing campaigns, by manipulating the website’s appearance or functionality after the settings are deleted.
- Data Loss (Indirectly): While the vulnerability directly targets plugin settings, disruptions caused by the exploit could lead to indirect data loss or corruption if not addressed promptly.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To address CVE-2025-13386, the following steps are highly recommended:
- Update the Plugin: Check for an updated version of the Social Images Widget plugin. If a patched version is available, immediately update to the latest version. This is the most effective way to eliminate the vulnerability.
- Consider Plugin Alternatives: If an update is not immediately available or the plugin is no longer actively maintained, evaluate alternative social media image display plugins for WordPress.
- Implement Security Best Practices: Encourage users to be cautious about clicking on unfamiliar links, especially those received via email or other untrusted sources.
- WordPress Hardening: Implement general WordPress security hardening measures, such as strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and limiting user privileges.
