Plugin Name	Comment Info Detector
Type of Vulnerability	Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
CVE Number	CVE-2025-10311
Urgency	Low
CVE Publish Date	2025-10-03
Source URL	CVE-2025-10311

Urgent: CVE-2025-10311 — Comment Info Detector (≤ 1.0.5) CSRF to Settings Update — What WordPress Site Owners & Developers Must Do Now

Author: WP-Firewall Security Team
Date: 2025-10-03
Categories: WordPress Security, Vulnerabilities, WAF

Executive summary

A Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability has been reported in the WordPress plugin “Comment Info Detector” affecting versions up to and including 1.0.5 and assigned CVE-2025-10311. The vulnerability enables a remote attacker to cause authenticated administrators (or other privileged users) to unknowingly execute actions that update plugin settings when a specially crafted request is triggered by the victim. At the time of publishing there is no official fixed plugin release.

From a protection standpoint this class of vulnerability is preventable with proper server-side validation (nonce and capability checks) in plugin code, and can be mitigated at the perimeter by a web application firewall (WAF) or by hardening the admin surface. In this post we walk through the technical details, the real-world impact, detection and response steps for site owners, recommended temporary mitigations (including WAF / virtual patch guidance), and developer-level fixes you or plugin authors should implement.

This guidance is published from the perspective of WP-Firewall, an independent WordPress firewall and security service focused on protecting WordPress sites in production.

What is the vulnerability?

• Identifier: CVE-2025-10311
• Affected software: Comment Info Detector plugin for WordPress
• Vulnerable versions: ≤ 1.0.5
• Vulnerability class: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) — settings update
• Reported: 03 October, 2025
• Severity / CVSS: Low (4.3) — patch priority: Low

CSRF vulnerabilities allow attackers to trick currently authenticated users into performing state-changing actions. In this case an attacker crafts a URL, image, or form on an external website or e-mail that causes an admin’s browser to submit a request to the vulnerable plugin’s settings handler. If the plugin did not properly verify the request origin and the user’s capabilities (for example via WordPress nonces and current_user_can checks), the change may be applied.

Why this matters (impact & scenarios)

Even though this vulnerability is categorized with a low CVSS score, CSRF vulnerabilities targeting settings are impactful because the attacker leverages the privileged session of an authenticated user (often an administrator). Below are some real-world scenarios:

• Silent configuration changes: An attacker forces administrators to change plugin settings to a less secure state (for example enabling debug/logging that leaks sensitive data, disabling security features, or choosing to expose data).
• Information exposure: If settings store or influence what data is displayed or collected about commenters, an attacker can adjust them to leak information or create noisy logs for further reconnaissance.
• Pivot to further attacks: Changes in configuration can be combined with other weaknesses (misconfigured file permissions, faulty sanitization elsewhere) to escalate or persist access.
• Logistics: Attackers often automate wide-scale exploitation of easy CSRF vectors (emails, malicious sites, or social engineering through chat/Slack messages), amplifying impact across many sites if the plugin is widely used.

Note: CSRF requires a victim with an existing authenticated session. The “Required privilege” listed in a database entry can sometimes be confusing; the exploit path relies on authenticated admin actions triggered by the victim’s browser.

Immediate actions for site owners and administrators

If your site uses the Comment Info Detector plugin (version ≤ 1.0.5), take the following steps immediately.

1. Inventory and identify:
   • Log into your WordPress admin and check installed plugins for “Comment Info Detector” and note the installed version.
   • If hosting multiple sites, inventory across all environments.
2. If the plugin is installed and active:
   • Deactivate the plugin immediately if you do not absolutely need it.
   • If you must keep it active for business reasons, tightly restrict admin access (see below) and apply perimeter mitigations (WAF / virtual patch rules).
3. Replace functionality
   • If you used the plugin for non-critical UI features, consider removing it and finding alternative implementations that follow WordPress security best practices or rely on built-in options.
4. Harden admin access:
   • Restrict wp-admin to known IP addresses where feasible (via web server config or host control panel).
   • Use two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin accounts.
   • Enforce strong passwords and audit admin accounts.
   • Use separate admin users for day-to-day, minimize number of admins, and limit capability scopes.
5. Check logs and settings:
   • Examine webserver and WordPress audit logs for sudden POST requests to plugin settings endpoints or for suspicious admin actions within the timeframe since disclosure (03 Oct 2025).
   • Check the database wp_options for unusual values related to the plugin.
   • Look for new or modified options that you did not change.
6. Rotate credentials and API keys if you observe suspicious activity:
   • If you see signs of compromise, rotate admin passwords and any API tokens used on the site.
7. Notify stakeholders:
   • Inform clients or teams that manage the site and plan downtime if you need to remove the plugin and test.

Recommended temporary perimeter mitigations (WAF & server rules)

When a plugin has no official fix available, virtual patching at the WAF / perimeter is the fastest way to reduce risk. Below are practical, implementable rules and hygiene that any WAF (including WP-Firewall) can use to mitigate CSRF attacks aimed at plugin settings endpoints.

Important: These are generic mitigations — some require tuning to avoid false positives depending on your admin workflows.

A. Block external-origin POSTs into admin pages

• Many CSRF attacks come from external pages that submit a POST to /wp-admin/. Deny POSTs to admin pages where the HTTP Referer does not match your site host.

Nginx example:

# Deny cross-origin POSTs to wp-admin
location ~* ^/wp-admin/ {
    if ($request_method = POST) {
        if ($http_referer !~* ^https?://(www\.)?yourdomain\.com/) {
            return 403;
        }
    }
    try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;
}

Apache (.htaccess) snippet:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_METHOD} POST
    RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^https?://(www\.)?yourdomain\.com/ [NC]
    RewriteRule ^wp-admin/ - [F]
</IfModule>

Replace yourdomain.com with your actual host. These rules help block crude CSRF attempts generated from third-party pages.

B. Block suspicious content-types and cross-site request patterns

• Many browser-driven CSRF payloads use forms or images. Block Content-Type mismatches, and require standard headers for admin POSTs (for example X-Requested-With for AJAX flows) where appropriate.

Generic WAF pseudo-rule:

• If request URI is /wp-admin/* and method == POST and Referer header missing or external and no WP nonce parameter is present -> block or challenge.

C. Protect specific plugin settings endpoints

• If the plugin exposes a specific endpoint (for example a settings page handling POSTs at options.php?page=comment-info-detector or an admin-post action), create a WAF rule to block POSTs to that URL from external origins or to require a valid CSRF token header.

D. Rate-limit and block automated exploitation

• Apply rate limiting and request throttling for admin URLs, block IPs that generate repeated suspicious POSTs, and temporarily block countries or networks with high abuse.

E. Virtual patching / rule patterns (examples)

• Block requests where the POST body includes expected settings field names if triggered from a foreign referer.
• If the plugin uses unique query parameters in the settings form, create a rule that denies requests with those parameters unless the request originates from an expected referer.

F. Monitor and alert

• Configure alerts for denied POSTs to admin endpoints and for any blocked attempts that resemble plugin settings updates. Logs are invaluable.

WP-Firewall customers: enable our virtual patching for this CVE to gain immediate protection — our WAF detects and blocks CSRF attempts targeting plugin settings endpoints at the perimeter without relying on plugin updates.

Detection and forensic guidance

If you suspect exploitation, collect evidence and perform triage:

1. Export logs:
   • Web server (access and error logs), WAF logs (blocked/allowed requests), and WordPress debug logs.
2. Look for anomalous POST requests:
   • Timestamps around emails, social media posts, or events that might have triggered an admin to click a link.
   • Requests to admin endpoints with external referer headers or suspicious user-agents.
3. Check admin sessions:
   • Review recent login history for admin accounts. Identify logins or actions from unfamiliar IP addresses.
4. Inspect database for unauthorized changes:
   • wp_options entries related to plugin settings are typical targets. Compare timestamps and values.
5. File system:
   • Ensure no new PHP files were written to wp-content, theme, or plugin folders (attackers sometimes use settings changes to enable backdoors).
6. Preserve evidence:
   • If you plan to engage incident response, snapshot logs and relevant DB entries, and do not overwrite logs.

Developer guidance — how plugin authors should fix CSRF

If you are the plugin author or a developer maintaining code that handles settings or state changes, follow these requirements:

1. Use WordPress nonces and proper verification:
   • Add a nonce field to forms: wp_nonce_field( 'my_plugin_settings_action', 'my_plugin_nonce' );
   • Verify at request handling: check_admin_referer( 'my_plugin_settings_action', 'my_plugin_nonce' );
   • For AJAX endpoints: check_ajax_referer( 'my_plugin_ajax_action', 'security' );
2. Validate capabilities:
   • Always check current user capability before performing settings updates:

     if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
         wp_die( 'Insufficient permissions' );
     }
             

3. Enforce server-side checks for REST endpoints:
   • If exposing REST API routes use permission_callback to validate capabilities and context:

     register_rest_route( 'my-plugin/v1', '/settings', array(
         'methods' => 'POST',
         'callback' => 'my_plugin_update_settings',
         'permission_callback' => function() {
             return current_user_can( 'manage_options' );
         }
     ) );
             

4. Validate input and sanitize:
   • Sanitize all input using WordPress sanitization functions before persisting.
   • Avoid trusting client-side checks or JavaScript-only protections.
5. Protect form actions:
   • Use admin-post.php or admin-ajax.php patterns correctly and protect them with nonces and capability checks.
6. Reject GET for state-changing operations:
   • Ensure that critical changes are only accepted via POST (and still protected with nonces and capability checks).
7. Review and test:
   • Include unit and integration tests that assert that state-changing actions require valid nonces and appropriate capabilities.

Hardening recommendations beyond the immediate fix

1. Enable HTTP security headers:
   • X-Frame-Options: DENY or SAMEORIGIN to mitigate UI redress (clickjacking).
   • Content-Security-Policy: restrict origins to trusted domains.
   • Referrer-Policy: no-referrer-when-downgrade or strict-origin-when-cross-origin.
2. Use least privilege:
   • Avoid shared admin accounts. Use role separation and the principle of least privilege.
3. Use WAF that understands WordPress semantics:
   • A WordPress-aware WAF can rate-limit admin actions, detect atypical POST patterns, and enforce origin checks on admin endpoints.
4. Regular audits:
   • Periodically review installed plugins and themes; remove unused ones.
   • Subscribe to a vulnerability intelligence feed and apply virtual patches until official fixes are released.

Sample WP-PHP code to add nonce and capability checks (developer example)

Below is a simplified pattern showing how to safely handle a settings update in an admin context. Plugin maintainers should integrate similar logic into the plugin’s handler.

<?php
// Example: secure settings POST handler
add_action( 'admin_post_my_plugin_save_settings', 'my_plugin_save_settings' );

function my_plugin_save_settings() {
    // Verify nonce (from wp_nonce_field)
    if ( ! isset( $_POST['my_plugin_nonce'] ) || ! check_admin_referer( 'my_plugin_settings_action', 'my_plugin_nonce' ) ) {
        wp_die( 'Security check failed', 'Error', array( 'response' => 403 ) );
    }

    // Verify capability
    if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
        wp_die( 'Insufficient permissions', 'Error', array( 'response' => 403 ) );
    }

    // Sanitize and update options
    $new_setting = isset( $_POST['my_setting'] ) ? sanitize_text_field( wp_unslash( $_POST['my_setting'] ) ) : '';
    update_option( 'my_plugin_setting_key', $new_setting );

    // Redirect safely back to settings page with success message
    wp_safe_redirect( add_query_arg( array( 'page' => 'my_plugin_page', 'updated' => 'true' ), admin_url( 'options-general.php' ) ) );
    exit;
}
?>

Example WAF rules and logic (more detail)

The WAF rule patterns below are examples you can adapt. They are useful if you manage your own perimeter (Nginx / Apache) or if you need to configure third-party WAF policies.

• Rule A — Deny POSTs to admin endpoints with external referer:
  • If method is POST AND request URI starts with /wp-admin/ AND Host header matches your site AND Referer not empty AND Referer host != Host -> block.
• Rule B — Require X-Requested-With for AJAX admin POSTs:
  • If URI equals /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and method is POST and HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH != ‘XMLHttpRequest’ -> challenge or block. (Note: be careful for legitimate non-AJAX uses.)
• Rule C — Block direct form submissions to plugin settings handler without nonce:
  • If POST contains parameter names uniquely tied to plugin settings (e.g., “comment_info_detector_option”) and referer is external -> block.

These rules should be deployed with logging/alerting first and tuned to avoid false positives.

Communication checklist for site operators

• If you manage client sites, inform them about the vulnerability, the steps you will take, and expected impact.
• If you run a managed WordPress hosting service, consider implementing the WAF virtual-patch rule at the host level for all customers to prevent exploitation in the window before plugin updates are released.
• Maintain and provide a timeline of actions taken: inventory, deactivate plugin (or apply WAF rule), logs inspected, actions completed.

When to re-enable the plugin

Only re-enable the plugin after:

• The plugin author releases an update that explicitly states the CSRF vulnerability is fixed, or
• You have confirmed in code review that the plugin performs nonce checks, capability checks, and sanitization for all state-changing handlers.

If you must re-enable before an official patch, keep the WAF rule enforced and restrict access to admin to known IPs only.

Why WAF / virtual patching matters for WordPress

WordPress sites are built on many moving parts — themes, plugins, and custom code — which makes coordinated patching across large fleets slow at times. A WAF that understands WordPress can provide a protective layer that blocks exploit attempts without waiting on plugin vendor updates. Virtual patching reduces the attack window and buys time to apply long-term fixes.

WP-Firewall’s virtual patching focuses on:

• Blocking known exploit payloads and attack patterns,
• Enforcing origin checks on admin endpoints,
• Rate-limiting suspicious admin POSTs,
• Providing an easy way to add temporary rules specific to disclosed CVEs.

Practical recovery steps if you detect a compromise

1. Isolate the site:
   • Temporarily take the site offline or put it behind maintenance mode to stop further damage.
2. Revoke all sessions:
   • Invalidate all active sessions for admin users; force password resets.
3. Scan for malware:
   • Run a full-site malware scan and check for unexpected files and scheduled tasks (cron jobs).
4. Restore from clean backups:
   • If evidence of tampering includes added files or backdoors, restore from a known-good backup made before the compromise.
5. Complete post-recovery hardening:
   • Reapply WAF protections, update plugins/themes, reset credentials, and monitor logs.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Should I immediately delete the Comment Info Detector plugin?
A: If you do not depend on the plugin, removing it is the safest route. If you need the functionality, deactivate temporarily until an official fix or until you can apply trusted mitigations (WAF/perimeter rules).

Q: Can CSRF be exploited remotely by unauthenticated users?
A: CSRF itself exploits the victim’s browser session — the attacker typically does not need to be authenticated on the target site. The victim must have an active authenticated session (for example, an admin logged into the dashboard). The attacker induces the admin to visit an attack page or click a crafted link.

Q: Will removing the plugin break comments or other UX?
A: That depends on what features you relied upon. Always test in staging first or ensure you have a backup.

Q: If I can’t restrict admin IPs, what can I do?
A: Enable 2FA, use a strong password policy, enable a WAF with virtual patching, monitor logs closely, and consider temporary maintenance windows for critical updates.

Developer checklist for auditing other plugins

• Search for any form handlers or admin_post hooks that process POST data without check_admin_referer or check_ajax_referer.
• Ensure REST routes include proper permission callbacks.
• Confirm all state-changing actions require capabilities via current_user_can.
• Add tests that simulate missing nonces to verify handlers reject requests.

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Final thoughts

CVE-2025-10311 is a timely reminder that even small utility plugins may introduce risks if they fail to implement standard WordPress security practices. CSRF vulnerabilities are straightforward to prevent with the right server-side checks, and the presence of a vulnerability does not automatically imply widespread compromise. The important actions are quick detection, immediate perimeter mitigations (WAF / nginx / apache rules), and a measured plan to patch or replace the plugin.

If you need help implementing WAF rules or virtual patches on your site, WP-Firewall offers WordPress-specific protection layers designed to mitigate these exact types of vulnerabilities while you apply permanent fixes. Our team can help design a tailored mitigation plan and monitor your site while you remediate.

Stay safe and always assume that attackers will try to exploit a window between disclosure and remediation — take action now to minimize your exposure.

— WP-Firewall Security Team