CVE-2025-46522
📋 TL;DR
A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Billy Bryant Tabs WordPress plugin allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that become stored XSS. When exploited, this enables attackers to perform actions as authenticated users and execute arbitrary JavaScript in victims' browsers. This affects WordPress sites using Tabs plugin versions up to 4.0.3.
💻 Affected Systems
- Billy Bryant Tabs 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 inject persistent malicious scripts that steal administrator credentials, deface websites, redirect visitors to malicious sites, or install backdoors on vulnerable WordPress installations.
Likely Case
Attackers create fake admin interfaces or forms that trick logged-in users into executing malicious actions, leading to session hijacking, content manipulation, or privilege escalation.
If Mitigated
With proper CSRF tokens and input validation, the attack vector is eliminated, preventing unauthorized script injection even if users are tricked into visiting malicious pages.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires tricking authenticated users into visiting malicious pages, but the technical complexity is low once the attack vector is understood.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.0.4 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Tabs' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update is available. 5. If no update appears, manually download version 4.0.4+ from WordPress repository and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the Tabs plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate gt-tabs
Implement CSRF Protection
allAdd custom CSRF tokens to plugin forms if you cannot update immediately
Add nonce verification to plugin form handling code
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the Tabs plugin completely and remove it from your WordPress installation.
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block suspicious POST requests to the plugin's admin endpoints.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'Tabs' plugin version. If version is 4.0.3 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get gt-tabs --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify plugin version shows 4.0.4 or later in WordPress admin plugins page.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with plugin-specific actions
- Multiple failed CSRF token validations in WordPress debug logs
- Unexpected plugin file modifications in wp-content/plugins/gt-tabs/
Network Indicators:
- Suspicious external domains loading in iframes on admin pages
- Unexpected JavaScript payloads in POST requests to plugin endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("gt-tabs" OR "tabs-plugin") AND ("admin-ajax" OR "wp-admin") AND (POST OR "csrf")