CVE-2025-46470
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the WordPress Smart Hashtags plugin that allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access controls. It affects all versions up to 7.2.3, potentially enabling unauthorized users to perform actions intended for administrators or other privileged users.
💻 Affected Systems
- Smart Hashtags [#hashtagger] 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 plugin settings, inject malicious content, or potentially escalate privileges to compromise the entire WordPress site.
Likely Case
Unauthorized users could modify hashtag settings, inject unwanted content, or disrupt plugin functionality.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and authentication checks, only authorized administrators could modify plugin settings.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires understanding of WordPress plugin structure and access control mechanisms.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 7.2.4 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins
3. Find 'Smart Hashtags [#hashtagger]'
4. Click 'Update Now' if available
5. If no update appears, download version 7.2.4+ from WordPress.org
6. Deactivate and delete old version
7. Upload and activate new version
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Temporary Plugin Deactivation
allDisable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate hashtagger
Access Restriction via .htaccess
linuxRestrict access to plugin admin pages
# Add to .htaccess in WordPress root:
<FilesMatch "hashtagger\.php">
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
</FilesMatch>
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Deactivate the Smart Hashtags plugin completely
- Implement strict network access controls to limit who can access WordPress admin interface
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for Smart Hashtags version. If version is 7.2.3 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get hashtagger --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify plugin version shows 7.2.4 or later in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized access attempts to /wp-admin/admin.php?page=hashtagger
- Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful plugin configuration changes
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to hashtagger admin endpoints from unauthorized IPs
- Unusual traffic patterns to WordPress admin interface
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND (uri_path="/wp-admin/admin.php" AND query_string="page=hashtagger") AND NOT user_role="administrator"