CVE-2025-23822
📋 TL;DR
A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the WordPress Category Custom Fields plugin allows attackers to trick authenticated administrators into performing unintended actions. This affects all versions up to 1.0 of the plugin, potentially leading to stored XSS attacks.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Category Custom Fields 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 inject malicious scripts into WordPress categories that execute when viewed by users, leading to account compromise, data theft, or site defacement.
Likely Case
Attackers create malicious categories with JavaScript payloads that execute in visitors' browsers, potentially stealing session cookies or redirecting users.
If Mitigated
With proper CSRF protections, attackers cannot force administrators to perform unauthorized actions, limiting impact to plugin functionality issues.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires tricking authenticated administrator into clicking malicious link while logged in.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 1.0 (if available) or remove plugin
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Category Custom Fields'. 4. Click 'Deactivate' then 'Delete'. 5. Consider alternative category management plugins.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Implement CSRF Protection
WordPressAdd nonce verification to plugin forms if you must keep the plugin
Requires custom PHP development to add wp_nonce_field() and wp_verify_nonce() calls
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove plugin entirely and use alternative category management solutions
- Restrict administrator access to trusted networks only
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'Category Custom Fields' version 1.0 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin list --name=categorycustomfields --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin is either updated to patched version or completely removed from plugins directory📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual category creation/modification by administrators
- POST requests to wp-admin/admin.php?page=categorycustomfields without referrer validation
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with suspicious category parameter values containing script tags
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("categorycustomfields" OR "admin.php?page=categorycustomfields") AND status=200