CVE-2025-22299
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the spacecodes AI for SEO WordPress plugin that allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels. It affects all versions up to and including 1.2.9, potentially allowing unauthorized users to access functionality intended only for authenticated users.
💻 Affected Systems
- spacecodes AI for SEO WordPress plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could modify SEO settings, inject malicious content, or access administrative functions depending on the specific broken access control implementation.
Likely Case
Unauthorized users could view or modify SEO-related settings that should be restricted to authenticated users.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls, only authorized users can access plugin functionality.
🎯 Exploit Status
Missing authorization vulnerabilities typically require minimal technical skill to exploit once the vulnerable endpoint is identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.3.0 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/ai-for-seo/vulnerability/wordpress-ai-for-seo-plugin-1-2-9-broken-access-control-vulnerability?_s_id=cve
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find 'AI for SEO' plugin
4. Click 'Update Now' if update is available
5. If no update appears, manually download version 1.3.0+ from WordPress repository
6. Deactivate, delete old version, and install new version
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate ai-for-seo
Restrict Access via Web Server
linuxUse web server configuration to restrict access to plugin directories
# Add to .htaccess for Apache:
<FilesMatch "\.(php|inc)$">
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
</FilesMatch>
# Add to nginx config:
location ~ /wp-content/plugins/ai-for-seo/.*\.php$ {
deny all;
}
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove the AI for SEO plugin entirely from production systems
- Implement network-level access controls to restrict access to WordPress admin interfaces
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins → AI for SEO versionCheck Version:
wp plugin get ai-for-seo --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.3.0 or higher in WordPress admin📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized access attempts to AI for SEO plugin endpoints
- Unusual POST/GET requests to /wp-content/plugins/ai-for-seo/
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to AI for SEO endpoints from unauthenticated sources
- Unusual traffic patterns to plugin-specific URLs
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND (uri_path="/wp-content/plugins/ai-for-seo/" OR user_agent="*AI for SEO*") AND http_status=200 AND auth_status="unauthenticated"