Nome do plugin	Restore Permanently delete Post or Page Data
Type of Vulnerability	CSRF
CVE Number	CVE-2025-7839
Urgência	Baixo
CVE Publish Date	2025-08-22
Source URL	CVE-2025-7839

Urgent: CSRF in “Restore Permanently delete Post or Page Data” (<= 1.0) — What WordPress Site Owners Must Do Now

Publicado: 22 August 2025
CVE: CVE-2025-7839 — Severity: Low (CVSS 4.3)
Vulnerability type: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) — A5: Broken Access Control

As a WordPress security practitioner working on WP-Firewall’s research and protection team, I’m writing to explain what this vulnerability means for site owners, why it matters even when the severity is “low”, and precisely what steps you should take today to protect your WordPress sites.

This advisory synthesizes publicly reported details about the vulnerability in the “Restore Permanently delete Post or Page Data” plugin (versions <= 1.0) and extends that with practical mitigation, detection, and prevention guidance. I’ll also show safe, non-exploitative code examples you can use to harden your site, and explain how managed virtual patching from a WAF can immediately help while an official fix is not available.

Note: the plugin currently has no official fixed version available.

---

Executive summary (plain language)

• What happened: A bug in the plugin allows web requests that restore or permanently delete posts/pages to be initiated without proper request validation.
• Immediate risk: An attacker could cause privileged actions to be executed either by tricking a logged-in admin to visit a malicious page (classic CSRF) — or, according to reports, by sending requests that are accepted without proper authentication checks. That could lead to unwanted restores or permanent deletions of content.
• Severity: Rated Low (CVSS 4.3). Why low? Because the impact is constrained compared to full takeover vulnerabilities (it affects content operations rather than remote code execution). But “low” does not mean “ignore” — content loss and disruption to editorial workflows are real threats.
• Short-term mitigation: If you run this plugin (<=1.0), immediately disable it or block the plugin’s admin endpoints with your firewall. If you prefer a less disruptive approach, apply virtual patching rules at the WAF level or add defensive code to verify nonces and capabilities before the plugin’s operations run.
• Long-term: Only reinstall a fixed plugin version from a trusted source. Add monitoring, role audits, and backups to reduce risk of data loss.

---

How the vulnerability works (technical, non-exploitative)

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) occurs when an attacker tricks a user’s browser into submitting a request to a target site where the user is authenticated. In WordPress, typical mitigations are:

• Nonces (wp_nonce_field(), wp_verify_nonce()) to ensure the request originates from a legitimate form in the UI.
• Capability checks (current_user_can()) to ensure the logged-in user is authorized to perform the action.
• Authenticated endpoints and checks in admin-only paths.

Reports indicate the plugin’s restore/permanent-delete operations are missing proper request validation — specifically the necessary nonce and/or capability verification. There are two relevant failure modes:

1. The plugin exposes an admin action that can be triggered while a legitimate admin is logged in, but the action lacks a valid nonce check. An attacker can craft a page which, when visited by that admin, forces their browser to issue the malicious request (classic CSRF).
2. Worse, the plugin endpoint may not require authentication or proper capability checks — meaning an unauthenticated actor could send requests directly and the plugin performs the action. If this is the case, the issue shifts from CSRF to broken access control (actions performing privileged operations without authentication).

Either failure mode allows unwanted content-level operations (restores or permanent deletes) that can lead to content loss or workflow disruption.

---

Who is affected?

• Sites running the plugin “Restore Permanently delete Post or Page Data” at version 1.0 or earlier.
• Administrators, editors, or any privileged role whose browser might be tricked into issuing requests (for CSRF scenarios).
• Potentially all WordPress installs with the vulnerable plugin installed, including multisite networks.

If you are not using the plugin at all, you are unaffected. If you are using the plugin, treat this as high priority to review and mitigate.

---

Practical immediate actions (step-by-step)

If you manage WordPress sites, follow these prioritized actions now. I start with the fastest ways to reduce risk, then give options for safer but slightly more complex mitigation.

1. Inventory and identify
   • Check every site you manage for the plugin:
     • WordPress admin: Plugins → Installed Plugins
     • CLI: wp plugin list | grep -i "restore"
   • Note the version. Versions <= 1.0 are reported vulnerable.
2. Quick stop: Disable the plugin (recommended if you can)
   • Dashboard → Plugins → Deactivate the plugin.
   • CLI: wp plugin deactivate <plugin-slug>
   • Rationale: immediate removal of the vulnerable code from the request path removes the risk entirely.
3. If you cannot disable the plugin (business constraints), apply one of these temporary protections:
   • Use your firewall to block direct access to the plugin’s admin endpoints.
     • Block POST requests to the plugin’s admin URL or endpoints (if you can identify them).
     • Restrict access to /wp-admin/admin-post.php with filtering that requires valid WordPress cookies or non-admin referrers.
   • Implement a WAF rule that drops requests attempting to perform “restore” or “permanent delete” operations unless a valid nonce is present. WP-Firewall customers can take advantage of virtual patching for this.
   • Limit admin access by IP: restrict /wp-admin and plugin pages to the office IPs when possible.
4. Implement short-term code hardening (if comfortable)
   • Insert a defensive hook in funções.php or a small mu-plugin that checks incoming requests and rejects unauthorized attempts. See the example code below.
5. Confirm and restore backups
   • Verify that recent backups exist and are restorable. Create a fresh backup immediately.
   • If you detect unauthorized deletions, restore from backup as required.
6. Monitor activity
   • Review edit/restore/delete timestamps in wp_posts and activity logs.
   • Enable or review WordPress audit logs to see who performed actions and when.
7. Update or remove permanently when fixed
   • When a secure plugin update is released, validate the fix before updating. If the plugin is no longer maintained, remove it permanently.

---

Defensive code snippet (safe example)

Below is a defensive code example you can add as a site-specific mu-plugin (recommended), or into your theme’s funções.php temporarily. This prevents POSTs that try to perform post restore/permanent delete actions unless a valid nonce and capability check are present.

Note: This is a generic defense. You need to adapt action names and request parameters to the plugin’s implementation. If you’re not comfortable editing PHP, ask a developer or use a WAF.

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: Temporary CSRF Defense for Restore/Delete Actions
Description: Intercepts requests that attempt to restore or permanently delete posts and validates WP nonces and capabilities.
Version: 1.0
Author: WP-Firewall Security Team
*/

add_action('init', function() {
    // We only inspect POST requests
    if ( 'POST' !== $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] ) {
        return;
    }

    // Identify plugin-specific parameters that indicate a restore/permanent-delete action.
    // You must update these keys to match the plugin's form fields or action names.
    $suspicious = false;
    $keys = array('restore_post_id', 'permanent_delete_post_id', 'action');

    foreach ($keys as $k) {
        if (!empty($_REQUEST[$k])) {
            $suspicious = true;
            break;
        }
    }

    if (!$suspicious) {
        return;
    }

    // 1) Require WP nonce
    $nonce_valid = false;
    if (!empty($_REQUEST['_wpnonce']) && wp_verify_nonce($_REQUEST['_wpnonce'], 'wp-restor-delete-action')) {
        $nonce_valid = true;
    }

    // 2) Require current user capability (admins or editors)
    $cap_ok = current_user_can('edit_others_posts') || current_user_can('publish_posts');

    // 3) Optionally verify referer header to make it harder to CSRF (not foolproof)
    $referer_ok = true;
    if (empty($_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']) || parse_url($_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'], PHP_URL_HOST) !== $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']) {
        $referer_ok = false;
    }

    // If any of the checks fail, block the request.
    if (!($nonce_valid && $cap_ok && $referer_ok)) {
        status_header(403);
        wp_die('Unauthorized request blocked.');
    }
}, 1);

How to use:

• Save as a file named mu-csrf-defender.php and place it in wp-content/mu-plugins/ (create directory if needed).
• Adjust keys to match the plugin’s parameters; if you don’t know them, enable the defensive WAF layer instead.
• This is temporary. Replace with a plugin-native fix when available.

---

Why a WAF / virtual patch helps immediately

When a plugin has no official patch, the safest route is often to remove it. But sites with business constraints sometimes cannot remove functionality immediately. That’s where a Web Application Firewall (WAF) and virtual patching come in:

• Block known malicious request patterns at the edge — before they reach WordPress.
• Enforce the presence of expected nonces and headers on requests for sensitive actions.
• Rate-limit or block suspicious IPs attempting to call deletion/restore endpoints.
• Provide swift mitigation even when plugin authors haven’t released a fixed version.

At WP-Firewall we deploy targeted rules that:

• Inspect POST requests for missing nonces for known action names.
• Block requests that originate from external sites (no referer host) trying to perform admin actions.
• Whitelist normal admin traffic to avoid impacting editors and content workflows.

Virtual patching is not a replacement for an official plugin fix, but it dramatically reduces the attack surface while the plugin is either updated or removed.

---

Detecting whether your site was targeted or exploited

If you run the vulnerable plugin, check the following artifacts to detect suspicious activity. These checks help determine whether any content was maliciously restored or permanently deleted.

1. Audit logs (best source)
   • If you have an audit plugin/service enabled, look for post restore and permanent delete events, including IP addresses and timestamps.
2. Database checks
   • Query wp_posts for recent changes:
     • Look for posts where post_status changed from trash para publish (restores).
     • Look for unexpected post_status of auto-draft or records missing where they used to exist (deletions).
   • Example SQL to find restores (adjust timestamps as needed):

     SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE post_modified >= '2025-08-15' ORDER BY post_modified DESC;

3. Server access logs
   • Review web server logs for POST requests to:
     • admin-post.php
     • wp-admin/admin-ajax.php
     • The plugin’s own endpoints (look up the plugin slug in the filesystem to identify file endpoints).
   • Look for requests with unusual POST parameters or from unknown IPs.
4. Media and attachments
   • Check the wp_postmeta e wp_posts entries for attachments. Permanent deletion of attachments can signal destructive operations.
5. Backups and snapshots
   • Compare recent backups to the live site. If content is missing, you may need to restore.
6. Indicators of compromise
   • Sudden author changes, mass content creation/deletion, or changes in scheduled posts are red flags.

If you detect exploitation, follow incident response steps: isolate the site, preserve logs, restore clean backup, rotate admin credentials, and harden access.

---

Longer-term hardening (best practices)

These measures reduce the impact of plugin vulnerabilities across your WordPress fleet.

• Principle of least privilege:
  • Limit administrative roles. Use Editor or Author for everyday content workflows.
  • Review all users and remove unused admin accounts.
• Two-factor authentication:
  • Enforce 2FA for all accounts with elevated privileges.
• Enforce nonces and capability checks:
  • Plugin authors must always use wp_nonce_field() in forms and verify with wp_verify_nonce(). They must always check usuário_atual_pode() before performing privileged actions.
• Automatic backups and test restores:
  • Regular automated backups with verified restore procedures reduce damage from deletions.
• Application-level logging and monitoring:
  • Maintain audit logs for content operations and monitor for abnormal spikes in deletes or restores.
• Secure staging/testing:
  • Test plugin updates and security fixes on staging before production rollout.
• Plugin lifecycle management:
  • Remove outdated or unmaintained plugins. Prefer plugins with strong maintenance records and a responsible disclosure program.
• WAF and virtual patching:
  • Deploy a WAF to block known attack patterns and apply virtual patches when vendor fixes are unavailable.

---

Recommended remediation checklist (quick reference)

• ☐ Identify all instances of the vulnerable plugin (<= 1.0).
• ☐ Deactivate the plugin immediately, if possible.
• ☐ If not possible, enable WAF rules to block restore/delete actions or apply the defensive mu-plugin snippet.
• ☐ Ensure you have a fresh backup; take one now.
• ☐ Review audit logs and server logs for suspicious activity.
• ☐ Rotate admin passwords and enforce 2FA.
• ☐ Monitor for a fixed plugin version; validate the fix and update.
• ☐ If heavy activity or data loss is detected: isolate the site, preserve logs, restore from backup, and follow incident response.

---

Example scenario (how an attack might look — high level)

An attacker crafts a webpage containing a hidden form or an image SRC that triggers a POST to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. If an admin visits that page while logged into your WordPress site, the browser automatically sends cookies with the request. Because the plugin does not verify a nonce or properly check the user capability, the server accepts the request and permanently deletes specific posts. The attacker’s goal is content sabotage, disruption of editorial schedules, or the creation of a confusing state that leads to a larger compromise.

If the plugin’s endpoint is callable without authentication, an attacker can trigger the action directly from their own system, scaling attacks across many sites that use the plugin.

---

How we at WP-Firewall protect customers (brief)

At WP-Firewall our approach to this type of issue includes:

• Immediate deployment of virtual patching rules that detect and block the request patterns associated with the vulnerable plugin (POSTs lacking valid nonces or requests that match restore/permanent-delete parameters).
• Traffic analysis to identify suspicious activity and block malicious IPs and user-agents performing automated exploitation.
• Guidance and remediation steps for site owners, plus monitoring to ensure mitigations don’t block normal editorial workflows.
• Coordinated disclosure processes and communications with plugin maintainers when possible.

If you are worried and want a rapid, non-intrusive layer that protects while you implement site-level fixes, consider a managed firewall plan (details below).

---

New: Secure your site with WP-Firewall’s free plan — an invitation

Title: Essential protection for every WordPress site — start with the free plan

Every website deserves a baseline level of security. If you want a fast way to reduce exposure to this and other plugin risks, WP-Firewall’s Basic (Free) plan gives you essential protections at no cost: a fully managed firewall, unlimited bandwidth, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) that blocks common exploit patterns, a malware scanner, and mitigation against the OWASP Top 10. You can sign up and get immediate coverage here: https://my.wp-firewall.com/buy/wp-firewall-free-plan/

If you need more automated remediation, our paid plans add automatic malware removal, IP blacklisting/whitelisting, monthly security reports, and virtual patching so you’re protected even before plugins are updated. Starting with the free plan is a simple step that reduces your exposure right away.

---

Frequently asked questions

Q: The vulnerability is rated “Low.” Should I still care?
A: Yes. “Low” indicates the standard scoring metrics but not the business impact. If you rely on your content, removal or unwanted restores are disruptive and can have reputation or revenue consequences.

Q: Is there an official fix?
A: As of the date of this advisory there is no official fixed plugin release available. That’s why temporary mitigation (disable, WAF, code snippet) is critical.

Q: Will disabling the plugin break my site?
A: That depends on how your site uses the plugin. Deactivating may remove a convenience feature but is safer than running vulnerable code. Create a site backup first.

Q: I don’t have a WAF. Can I still protect my site?
A: Yes — the fastest options are: disable the plugin, add the defensive snippet as an mu-plugin, restrict admin access by IP, and ensure backups and monitoring are in place.

Q: Can logs prove if an attacker exploited this?
A: Logs and audit trails will show suspicious POST traffic and changes in wp_posts. However, absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence. Harden first, then investigate.

---

Final thoughts and recommended priorities

1. If you run the plugin (<=1.0): disable it now if you can. If you can’t, immediately apply a WAF rule or the defensive snippet above.
2. Confirm backups and monitoring are working. Backups are often the single fastest recovery method.
3. Enforce role minimization and 2FA for admin accounts.
4. Deploy a managed firewall or virtual patching if you need protection before a plugin fix is available.

If you want help implementing any of the mitigations (WAF rules, virtual patching, defensive mu-plugin deployment), WP-Firewall’s team can assist. We can provide a quick assessment of exposure and recommend the appropriate mitigation plan.

Stay safe — and don’t let “low” severity lull you into complacency. Content matters, and preventing avoidable loss is a core part of good WordPress hygiene.

— WP-Firewall Security Team

(If you’d like to get the free security layer recommended above — managed firewall, unlimited bandwidth, WAF, malware scanner, and OWASP Top 10 mitigation — sign up here: https://my.wp-firewall.com/buy/wp-firewall-free-plan/)